Be Strong and Courageous

Psalm 105:4 says, "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” I try to go by that every day. For me, the ultimate example of strength and courage was Jesus. I study his life and teachings to help me face my fears.

Allow me to share a personal example. The story starts right before chapel at school. This eighth grader remixed a song and made it about me and a few of my friends. I told him to be quiet in a bit more harsh way. He didn’t listen, so I told him two more times. He finally was quiet, but right before we said the pledge, he stuck his middle finger up at me. I was really upset. After chapel I went to go tell the principal. While on my way there I started thinking to myself, “What if he comes after me because I snitched.” I mustered up my courage and went anyway.  

Later, we were at lunch and I hadn’t said anything to him all day at this point. He glared back at me and said, “If you tell me to shut up one more time I am going to put your teeth into the drywall.” That really got to me, so I went and told the principal again.  

I was sitting in class and was thinking about recent events. We had a sub that day, because my reading and grammar teacher had to leave early that day. The sub didn’t know what had happened. No one did. I was really upset for the rest of the day. I was hoping that something would go right for me, but then nothing did. He hadn’t said anything else all day, which was good, but no one even asked if I was okay. I wasn’t that upset about that, but normally they do ask, so it was just odd.   

Later that day, my dad picked me up. He asked, “How was yall’s day?” (My sister was also in the car.)  

She said, “Good, but pretty boring.”  

I responded the same thing, even though it wasn’t true. I just don’t like how my parents ask me a bunch of questions about events that are “pretty boring.”

I woke up the next morning happyish, went to school, and the first person who said something to me was the eighth grader. He said something I can’t repeat here, or anywhere, to be frank. It has eased up over time, but he is still as toxic as Chernobyl.

Next time, I can handle threats and criticism better. When another bully confronts me, I will just think of Psalm 105:4: "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always,” and I will think of Jesus and his example of strength and courage, and I will not be afraid.

Jackson Kizer