All of God’s
children are unique in their own way.
Just because they are different does not make them freaks. It is sad to say that bullying has become
more common in today’s society. It
appears to be starting at a younger age and continuing well into
adulthood. These individuals suffer a
great deal of verbal and mental abuse at the hand of their abusers, some even endure
physical abuse as well. Bullying can
occur for many reasons ranging from music and clothing choices to personal
appearance and lifestyle choices. In
most cases, the bullying is motivated by the self-esteem issues (whether overly
low or high) of the abuser. The victims
feel like their world is spinning out of control and nothing makes sense to
them. Prolonged abuse can make the victim
fell like life is not worth living or the pent up frustration causes them to
become angry with the world, especially if they feel like no one is listening
or taking their cries for help seriously.
The end result, if left unaddressed, may result in the victim taking his
or her own life or the lives of others they feel threatened by. . None
of God’s creatures are meant to die in violence, and taking one’s own life or
the life of another is not the answer. In Ecclesiastes 7:17, we are left to
wonder why anyone would want to leave the world before their purpose has been
met. Why leave so soon?
This is
where communication with God our Father and Jesus our Savior can be crucial in
these times of crisis. God and Jesus are
always willing to listen to our problems and guide our way down the best path
for us. In Jeremiah 15:15, he asks God
to stand with him and help him face his aggressors. God has a way of making sense out of chaos and
confusion. The torment that Jesus
endured in His life that ultimately resulted in His crucifixion indicates that
Jesus understands suffering. The
resurrection of Jesus is not only a sign that our sins are forgiven, but also
that there is nothing that we can’t rise above and get through if we put our
faith in Him. We need Christ’s
intervention in our lives, especially in times of distress, to show us the path
that is best for us to follow. If we
silence ourselves, it allows God and Jesus to intervene and show us what is
best in such ways as dreams, visions, or simply an overwhelming feeling of calm
that gives us the strength to do what is needed. The messages that are received from God and
Jesus may not be obvious and the result may not be the one we expect, but we
must believe that it is the best option for us and put our faith in Him.
We also can
be of assistance to someone by listening and empathizing with them. We may not have the answers that they are
looking for, but we can be their soft place to fall and their support
system. We also can ask God and Jesus to
not only watch over them, but also to help guide us in supporting them and
helping them through their difficult journey.
Recognizing the signs that someone is in crisis is the beginning. Allow God to guide you and encourage them to
trust in God and Christ for the strength to face the situation. Never give up….no matter what.
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As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.
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