To stand upright, consider our ways . . .

TODAY’S PROVERB: A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright man considers his ways. Proverbs 21:29, TLV

Have you ever been pulled down by the ocean’s undertow? If the current is particularly strong, you don’t even have to be in deep waters to lose your footing.

The undertow is a lot like someone who intimidates others. When we least expect it, they can pull us off our feet. You know the people I’m talking about. Bullies. Sadly, they’re everywhere . . . Even in believers’ circles.

It has taken me a long time — and I still struggle from time to time — to figure out how to “consider my ways” and not be sucked into the wake of someone’s bullying.

If we have a sense that someone is intentionally intimidating us, seek our Heavenly Father for confirmation. Bullying behavior is generally consistent, but not all the time. Like the ocean’s current, sometimes it is dangerous, other times it is safe. If a bully is triggered, they tend to default to a more threatening attitude.

Through prayer, wisdom, faith, and the wise counsel of the community of saints, we can stand firm and not be pressured or intimidated. We can also learn the “current” and recognize when we’re in a situation where this can happen. Then, it’s just a matter of stepping away to stable ground.

May we stand firmly upright, my friends.

Proverbs 21:29 Tree of Life Bible Society, Tree of Life Version – TLV, #tlvbible, #tlvproverbs