i am soooooooooooo puzzeld please read this and help me

Hi Ollie

I am really sorry to hear of what happened to your little brother, and I'm really sorry to hear that the leaders didn't sort it out.

You did really well to pray for him. When we pray we show that we trust God, and 1 Peter 5v7 tells us to pray to God about the things that worry us because he cares for us. But God doesn't promise  that nothing bad will happen to us if we pray, or if we do what's right. What those boys did shows that we live in a world that isn't perfect. We are looking forward to the time that we will live with God in a perfect world (2 Peter 3v13).

There is a reason why God lets bad things happen to us. James 1v2-4 and Hebrews 12v7-11 (I copied these verses below in an easier translation) tell us that God is growing us in our faith when we suffer, and Romans 8v28-29 tell us that God is making us more like Jesus. Hebrews 12v10 says God lets this happen because he loves us and wants the best for us. A bit like when a parent punishes a child they love because they need to learn what's right. So, if Tom believes in Jesus, he can know that even when bad things happen God is working in him and helping him to grow as a Christian. He can also know that God cares for him (1 Peter 5v7) and is with him (Matthew 28v20).

• Endure hardship as discipline...Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12vv7-11)

But I don't just want to stop there, because there are things you and Tom can do.

Keep praying. God does care and wants to be involved. Jesus knows what suffering is like because he suffered. He understands (Hebrews 4v15-16)

Lots of people have been bullied at some time, including me. It's really hard, but God hasn't abandoned us; he is with us and he's doing what's best for us. If your brother feels worthless because of what's happening, then he could memorise some verses and tell them over to himself to remind himself of how God sees him. 1 Peter 5v7, Romans 5v8, and Psalm 38v19-22 are good places to start. You might want to look these up in a different version to the one on the website.

Tom really should tell your Mum or Dad about what's happening. God has given you them to take care of you both and they need to know about it.

Let us know if you have any more questions, and let us know how things go for Tom. I'll be praying.

Hiya, I just want to say a little of my own experienses that could help. I got bullied a lot as a younger kid, I know exactly how your brother is feeling. Looking back, I was a very emotional child and I showed it. The people who were unkind then knew they were hurting me and they carried on. Looking back, the fact they bullied me stregthened me as a person. I am still very emotional but I try and make myself look strong and confident so I am not a target. Keep on praying for confidence and stregnth and he will get though the problems he has been having. A verse that always keeps me strong in every aspect of my life is Jeremiah 29:11-13