I Can Stands No More: How I Dealt with My Bully

Like most people I had to deal with a bully.  Someone that picked on me for whatever reason, while I sat there and took it.  Humiliated, hurt, and dreading to go to school.  But there came a day, when I got tired of my bully, when I stood up to my bully. 

It happened the day I turned twelve.  I was on cloud nine that day because my father who was away on revival had felt bad about missing my birthday so he had my Aunt Mary deliver a bouquet of balloons to my band class.  When I saw those balloons that my father had given me and my Aunt’s big smile, I was so elated I burst into tears.  I remember walking down the hallway after class with my friend, all smiles, reflecting on the goodness of my father.  How much he loved me and showed his favor towards me by presenting me with a gift in front of everyone. 

But then my bully approached.  This girl had been picking on me for quite some time now.  She would often do and say things in front of other people, embarrassing me.  It had gotten to the point where I hated going to school because I didn’t want to see her.  Of course I never told any adult that there was a problem, because let’s just face it, that is not what children do.  She was my adversary, my torment, and she had come again today to torment me.  She ran up behind me, grabbed my ponytail and yanked it as hard as she could.  She pulled it so hard that the ponytail holder broke as my hair cascaded down my back. 

As she ran off laughing I began to think about how happy I had been, how great my gift was, how happy everyone else was for me, and now this little demon had come to steal my joy.  Something in me snapped, and to quote that great Shakespearean orator Popeye,

“That’s all I can stands, I can stands no more.”

My friend looked at me in utter shock and bewilderment as I shoved all my belongings into her arms and began to chase my tormentor down the hallway.  When I reached her I didn’t say a word I just grabbed her by her arms and flung her against the lockers as hard as I could, in front of the hall monitors.  She looked at me in complete shock as I stood there hands balled into a fists so tight I could feel my nails digging into my palms. 

The hallway was in a complete stand still as I stared down my adversary, my tormentor.  When it became apparent that she was not going to do anything I took my belongings from my friend, and walked away, with my head held high and smiling, as evidence of my father’s favor floated above my head.

Now I didn’t have to take being tormented.  Besides the fact that I always had the strength to take on my adversary, strength that I had inherited from my father.  I also had a father who loved me and who I had favor with, that would have stepped in and stopped the situation.  I used neither.

There are many of you who are reading this and being tormented by the satan your adversary, and you don’t have to take it.  I had the strength the whole time to stand up for myself but I never used it.  It was only when I got mad, that’s when I found the courage to fight back.  The faith in myself that I could stand my ground.

Stay alert!  Watch out for your great enemy, the devil.  He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.  Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith…  1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.       Ephesians 6:10-13 NLT

How long are you going to let the devil reign in your family, in your finances, on your job, in your body?  When are you going to use what God has given you to take back your joy, your happiness, your peace of mind.  This isn’t a soccer match that you are in, this is war!  So many times we are asking God why isn’t He moving, when in reality He is waiting on us to move.  He is waiting on us to take authority over that thing because He has given us the authority!

The whole time I had the power to stop my tormentor, but power is no good unless you use it.  Just like in those old Popeye cartoons, the spinach was no good until he ate it and digested it.  It was of no use to him in that can, it was only after he put it into his system it did any good.  Don’t let the devil steal your joy, your peace of mind, your health, or your family.  You have the power, you have the authority, because God has given you those things, use it.

Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy... .    Luke 10:19 NLT