From Victim to Victor

"As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him.

For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust."

Psalm103:13-14

Bullied again. Unkind words. Marks. Hate speech. Falsely accused. Last week was rough. My heart broke for my children as they came home yet another day with stories of mistreatment at school. I was devastated. I pitied my children. I wanted to shield them from the evil of this world, from selfishness, from injustice. I felt so helpless, and I knew deep in my soul that this was just the beginning. Life is unfair, and they will suffer.

There is really no better picture of my Lord, the advocate for His children. Oh how His heart must break as He sees His children persecuted, mistreated, and suffering!

God knows every hurtful word spoken, every violent act committed, and every wince of pain His children endure. He knows. He cares. He grieves.

Isaiah 49:16 says, "See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me."

Believers, we are so dear to our Savior! He sees each of us. He knows our struggles. He knows are weaknesses. He sees the walls that threaten to collapse upon us. How easy it would be for God to just remove all the pain and suffering, but then we would miss the beautiful lessons and growth that come as a result of learning to lean on Him.

As we were talking with some friends this evening, their teenage daughter spent some precious time talking to my boys about her experiences with unkind classmates. She said with a beautiful smile, "You know what I do when I get home from school? I pray for them." This sweet girl used her personal suffering to minister to my boys. You could see her unshakeable trust in Jesus. This trust was gained as a result of difficult, hurtful circumstances. She is a victim that has become a victor.

Tonight as one of my children recounted how select kids in his class said they hated him, my heart once again broke. That's my baby. I want to make it all better and protect him from every unkind word. As I write these words with tears streaming down my cheeks, I recall the words I pray over my boys nearly every night, "Lord, help them to always stand for You." My prayer is answered on a daily basis. My boys are standing. They are enduring. But, it's breaking my heart.