Ellen White's Advice for Children Facing Bullying

To a child facing the trial of being bullied, the most essential counsel is to find strength in the character of Jesus, who was Himself mocked and ridiculed by unfeeling wretches but never lost His dignity or gentlenessDA 735.4+1. By looking to Christ, you can learn to respond with a spirit of long-suffering and pity rather than seeking revenge or giving way to a defiant spiritDA 735.4+1.

Finding Strength in Jesus 🛡️

• Embrace Your Worth: You have been bought with the precious blood of Christ and are His property; therefore, do not allow the harsh words of others to destroy your sense of individuality or your value in God's eyes10MR 194.1+2.

• Follow the Pattern of Christ: When Jesus was delivered to a rude and uncultivated mob, He expressed the tenderest pity for His foes and maintained the dignity of silenceDA 735.4+1.

• Seek Divine Protection: God is a refuge from the storm and a shadow from the heat when the blast of the terrible ones is like a storm against the wall Isaiah 25:4.

• Trust in Future Justice: The Lord is a God of justice who sees every unmerciful action and will eventually break in pieces the oppressor Psalms 72:4PM 133.2.

How to Respond to Peers 🤝

• Choose Meekness over Force: The truth and the cause of God cannot be advanced by force or a defiant spirit; instead, aim to be blameless and harmless in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation Philippians 2:154LtMs, Lt 49, 1886, par. 9.

• Practice Forbearance: It is hard to heal the wounds caused by harsh words, so try to yield your own opinion whenever possible to avoid unnecessary disputes19MR 68.2.

• Be a Light: By showing the refining grace of God and the beauty of a Christian example, you can win over others and even help reform those who oppose themselves10MR 3.2+1.

• Maintain Integrity: Even when pressured, do not yield to the suggestions of those who dishonor God, but stand boldly for what is right even if it involves self-sacrificeYI February 4, 1897, par. 7+1.

The Power of Prayer and Trust 🙏

• Flee to the Covert: When you feel intimidated by an overbearing spirit, flee to the Lord, who is like the shadow of a great rock in a weary land2T 99.3.

• Rely on Heavenly Witnesses: While bullies may think their cruelty is unknown, an angel of God stands as a witness to every act of abuse and records it in the courts aboveEP 313.3+1.

• Ask for Divine Aid: If you come to the Lord as a little child, He will give you the wisdom and strength needed to endure every taxation and strainMR728 11.5+1.

• Wait for the Lord's Deliverance: The redeemed of the Lord shall eventually return with singing, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away Isaiah 51:11.

While the current experience may be painful, remember that your trust is in the Lord God of Israel, and He will not leave you to your oppressors Psalms 119:121RH March 23, 1886, par. 9. "The LORD is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" Hebrews 13:6.