Ways to comfort someone who’s been bullied.

Mathetis Originals

Here are some ways you might consider to be of help.

Listen to the person when he or she describes their hurt and feelings.
Remind the person that God loves them and cares for them and that he will help them get through it.
Have a brief prayer for the person to be healed and for the perpetrator to stop this evil behavior and be helped to correct it.
Assure the person that you genuinely care for them and that you will stay by them and help them as their friend.
If the abuse warrants it, go with the person to report the abuse so that the abuse does not happen to others and so that the perpetrator can receive help.
Offer to sit by the person during lunch, to walk with them to and from school or to their transportation, and to meet them before and after school to see how things are going.
Continue to show interest and care by checking with the person over the next few weeks to let them tell you how it’s going.

Do you know some additional ways that you could be of help?

If we want to follow Jesus, the one thing that we must not do is to seek revenge and try to “get even.” In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught us how to deal with those who criticize, condemn and ridicule us. Here’s what he said:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:43-45).

The Apostle Paul instructed us to be sure that we do not return evil for evil but instead overcome evil with good. Here’s what he said:

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it  to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Rom. 12:17-21).