Blog

Sep 28, 2026 06:00am

What Do You Say?

38 Views

What do you say to your children when they face criticism and harsh treatment from others? You want to offer some type of encouragement—something to remind them of how loved, important, and special they are. And maybe even remind them that the person being the bully might be hurting too. They might be trying to fit in, or maybe they’re missing something in their own life.

I was better equipped to share those words, not only with the kids but with myself, because I was once that bully.

I know. It might be hard to believe.

I was always trying to find my place. And I’d do whatever it took to be “in” with that group of friends. I was searching for love, but I wasn’t going to find it in those places.

When love found me, well, it completely changed my life.

Just like it did with Paul.

**2 Thessalonians 1:1–2**

“Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The church was facing great persecution for their faith. Paul couldn’t stop it, but he could pray and send them a letter to remind them of how loved and special they were to him and to the Lord.

And he knew the kind of persecution they were facing because he had once been one of the greatest persecutors of Christians. He, too, had been missing something in his life, and he thought power was the answer.

But when the Lord met him on that road, he found love instead.

Today, we are speaking at the Lifeword en Español conference in El Salvador. We are here to encourage our brothers and sisters from Central and South America and remind them of how important and special they are to the mission of God. Paul’s words echo in my mind as I prepare what I will share with them:

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Will you pray for them too?

And how can you encourage someone who is struggling today? If someone came to mind as you read this, would you reach out to them?

You don’t know just how much that might mean to them.