Trust God, Not Emotions!

Ponder this: Trust God, not your emotions!

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NKJV) 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

When it comes to bullying and bully retribution, your emotions tell you to fight back, but that is not what God has told us to do. Trust in Him to the point of obedience. In doing this, you will allow Him to direct your paths through life and avoid many a pitfall.

When we’re hurt, many times our emotions tell us to fight back. However, that is not what God has told us to do in His Word. He tells us to trust Him, which also means obedience to His Word. When we trust God, we’re allowing Him to direct our paths through life and will avoid many a pitfall.

What Does God Hate?

Many people speak of God as only a God of love, but God hates some things. In fact, Scripture says these things are an abomination to Him.  They are in other words extremely disgusting to Him, loathing to Him.

Proverbs gives us seven things that fall into this category:

Proverbs 6:16–19 (NKJV) ¹⁶These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: ¹⁷A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, ¹⁹A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

1.    A Proud look - James 4:6 (NKJV) ⁶But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”   God, in Scripture, always favors the humble.  Bullies are often far from humble they think they are superior to others.  Yet, the bullied often respond in pride which builds conflict with those around them and often escalates a situation.

2.    A lying tongue – God commands us to put off lying and to speak the truth in love.   Eph. 4:15; 25 Unfortunately, both the bully and he who is bullied is often guilty of not being honest.  Hence, Proverbs challenge Proverbs 18:13, 17 (NKJV) ¹³He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him. ¹⁷The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him. 

3.    Hands that shed innocent blood – These are the bullies who attack unprovoked, and just delight in hurting others.  Though these situations are growing, after questioning teens, they still seem to be the minority of bullying cases.

4.    A heart that devises wicked plans – Notice here; this is an issue of the heart, there is no inference that this has even been carried through, but simply the thoughts.  Many a bully, and she who is being bullied, can be guilty of planning evil in their hearts.  Unfortunately, many a parent and grandparent encourage this type of thinking, as well.

5.    Feet that are swift in running to mischief – There are many individuals that are in a hurry to be unrighteous, to say unrighteous things in response to others, to act in unrighteous ways toward others.  God, in His hatred toward mischief, does not differentiate on whether it was verbal, or physical; He still hates it!

6.    A false witness who speaks lies – How many individuals are false witnesses because they fail to tell the whole story, and be honest with those who are trying to deal with a solution?  How many twist the story to their advantage, never desiring the truth to be known?

7.    One who sows discord – How many people love the drama and stirring up others by telling stories, gossiping, and repeating how they were wronged instead of going to the individual and addressing the problem with truth?  Others fabricate stories to get others riled up and bring conflict, dissension, and fights to the groups and organizations of which they are part.

God is calling us to repent and turn from our sin to righteousness.  John 1:9 “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  If we are going to find a true “bully solution,” both the bullied and the bully are going to have to be honest with themselves, and God and deal with their sin by putting it under the blood of Christ and choosing a different way of life!

A Standard of Right and Wrong?

Every individual believes that certain things are wrong.  Even some of the most evil criminals have had “standards” or “ethics”.  They may not have applied to anyone that was a victim of their crime, but they did recognize some things as wrong, usually when done to them.

In our society today, one of the things that most would agree is wrong is “bullying”.  Only a few bullies themselves would recognize their actions as wrong yet  all of the 99% around them do.  But what really makes bullying wrong?  Is it what the majority thinks?  Is it what culture says?  Are we simply left to decide for ourselves?  If that is the case, then the standard of what is right and wrong will be in flux or constant change.

This standard of right that our culture once used is the Scriptures or Holy Bible.  (No, man will never perfectly interpret and follow every aspect of Scripture, but that should not keep us from trying.)  God gives us his standard of right and wrong within the pages of the Bible.  

If we use this standard for addressing what is wrong – i.e. “sin”,  then we must apply it to those who are bullies, those being bullied, and those observing.  If we use the standard of scripture, we move from human authority of others, parents, grandparents, schools, and government, to God’s authority.  Then, when an individual is violating God’s standards, he is not only disobeying the earthly authority, but the heavenly authority as well.

When we use the scriptures to deal with an issue, we can get to the heart of the issue.  Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) ¹²For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

We, as individuals and a society, must return again to bringing people back to the standard of the Scriptures to expose their “sin,” and to reveal their accountability once again to God’s authority.

In future articles, we will look at how this sin must be dealt with before God, and how to practically address various issues with appropriate Scripture.