Some memories stay with us because of what happened. Others stay because of who was present: and who was not.
I remember my first week of junior high school vividly. I was a freshman, and within those first few days, I quickly learned to avoid certain places. I stayed away from bathrooms where older students gathered. I avoided the locker room unless it was time for physical education. I kept clear of hidden corners where younger students could be targeted without anyone noticing.
I tried to stay where a teacher could see me.
At that age, I believed an adult would come to my rescue if I needed help. I thought being within sight of a teacher meant I was protected.
By the end of that first week, I learned that being seen and being helped are not always the same thing.
A painful lesson from junior high
Near the wood-shop classroom, two older classmates grabbed me and held me down. One removed my shoes and pants while another threw my shoes onto the roof. They then attempted to put me headfirst into a steel trash can.
They were unable to lift me into it because I was too heavy. That failure led to a cruel nickname: “Beach ball with fingers.”
I remember feeling fortunate that I was not thrown headfirst into the trash can, as some other freshmen had been. But being fortunate does not make what happened acceptable. It was not harmless. It was not a rite of passage. It was bullying, humiliation, and abuse of power.
The wrongdoing belonged to the students who attacked me. It did not belong to me.
The most painful part came when I realized the wood-shop teacher had witnessed the entire incident. I called out for help. His response was:
“There’s only one person holding you. Take care of your own business.”
Then he walked back into class.
That sentence stayed with me for years. It taught me something I did not want to learn so early: Sometimes the person you expect to help you will not help you.
It also taught me to pay attention to whom I trust.
When people fail us
There are moments in life when our faith is tested. Fear can surround us like raging waters. We may feel exposed, trapped, or alone. Sometimes the people we expect to protect us are absent. Other times, they are present but choose not to act.
Those experiences can affect how we see the world. They can make us cautious. They can make us question authority. They can make it difficult to ask for help again.
Those responses are understandable.
When someone has failed to protect you, it may take time to trust wisely. That does not mean you are weak. It means something important was broken, and healing often requires patience.
The story of my first week in junior high was not evidence that I was unworthy of protection. It was evidence that other people made wrong choices.
That distinction matters.
When someone mistreats us, shame often tries to move in. It tells us that we should have been stronger, faster, louder, or somehow different. But the responsibility belongs to the person who caused the harm: and to the adults who failed to respond appropriately.
The Lord is not like the teacher who walked away
Human beings can fail us. God does not abandon His children.
That does not mean faith prevents every painful event. It does not mean believers will never be bullied, betrayed, disappointed, or afraid. Scripture does not make those promises. David’s life certainly did not reflect an easy path.
David faced enemies, betrayal, danger, and seasons when he had to run for his life. Yet he continued to return to God as his source of strength.
Psalm 18:2 says:
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Read Psalm 18:2 slowly.
A rock is steady. A fortress provides refuge. A shield stands between a person and danger. A deliverer brings someone out of trouble.
These descriptions do not suggest that David never experienced danger. They show where David turned when danger came.
God’s presence is not dependent on whether another person chooses to help. He does not become distracted. He does not walk away because our pain is inconvenient. He does not measure our worth by the opinions of people who mistreat us.
When human beings fail, the Lord remains faithful.
Where does our help come from?
Psalm 121 begins with a question:
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains: where does my help come from?”
Then the psalmist answers:
“My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
You can read Psalm 121:1–2 in its full context.
The answer is not that help comes from having perfect circumstances. It is not that every authority figure will respond correctly. It is not that every person we trust will prove trustworthy.
Our ultimate help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
That truth does not remove the need for wise human support. We should still seek safe people, responsible leaders, counselors, pastors, family members, and friends who will listen and act with integrity. We should still protect children and speak up when someone is being harmed.
Trusting God does not mean ignoring danger or refusing help from others. It means recognizing that no human being can occupy God’s place in our lives.
People should be trusted wisely. God can be trusted completely.
God can free us from the traps that ensnare us
Some experiences become traps long after the event has ended.
A cruel nickname can remain in our thoughts. A dismissive sentence can become an inner voice. A betrayal can make us believe that no one is safe. Fear can keep us from taking healthy risks or accepting genuine care.
But God is able to lead us out of those traps.
Psalm 124 describes the Lord’s protection this way:
“We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.”
The psalm concludes:
“Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
You can read Psalm 124:1–8 and reflect on its picture of danger, deliverance, and renewed trust.
The psalm does not pretend the snare was imaginary. It does not deny that danger existed. It celebrates the fact that the trap did not have the final word.
That is an important hope for anyone who has been mistreated.
What happened to you may be part of your story, but it does not have to become the definition of your life. The words spoken against you do not determine your identity. The failure of an adult does not mean every adult will fail. The betrayal of one person does not prove that trust is impossible.
God can strengthen you as you learn to trust again.
Learning whom to trust
That first week of junior high taught me to be more careful about where I went and whom I trusted. As I grew older, I learned that trust should not be given simply because someone is older, more powerful, or placed in a position of authority.
Trust is demonstrated through consistent character.
A trustworthy person listens when you speak. They do not minimize your fear. They do not blame you for someone else’s wrongdoing. They do not ask you to handle serious harm alone. They use their position to protect, guide, and serve.
This is also a lesson worth passing to the next generation:
- Tell the truth about what happened.
Do not call cruelty harmless simply because it was common or tolerated. - Remember where responsibility belongs.
The person who causes harm is responsible for that harm. The person who witnesses it and refuses to help may also carry responsibility for that failure. - Seek safe support.
If you or someone you know is being harmed, speak with a trusted adult, counselor, pastor, advocate, or appropriate authority. - Let God rebuild your confidence.
Human failure can wound your ability to trust, but it does not change God’s character. - Keep your eyes on the Lord.
As David did, return to God as your rock, refuge, shield, and deliverer.
Faith is not pretending that painful things did not happen. Faith is trusting that God remains present when they do.
A legacy of trust
When I look back on that frightened freshman, I do not see someone who deserved what happened. I see a young person trying to find safety in an environment where older students misused their strength and an adult failed to intervene.
I also see how God has carried me through the years.
The Lord did not approve of what happened. He did not need the pain to be called good before He could bring good from my life. He met me in the confusion, the humiliation, and the questions. Over time, He taught me that people may fail, but He will not leave me defenseless or abandon me in the middle of the struggle.
David’s resilience came from repeatedly turning toward God. That same invitation is available to us.
Trust in the Lord today. Lift your eyes to Him. Let His presence steady you when fear feels like raging water. Let His wisdom guide you toward safe and trustworthy people. Let His strength help you release the names, labels, and failures that were placed upon you by others.
Your ultimate source of help is the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth.
And He can strengthen you on your journey.
Brett Stacy
National Director & Founder of the Hometown Hero Credit, a non-profit program of Operation T.A.G. (Tangible Act of Gratitude), and 501(c)(3) non-profit project of HDCF.
Operation T.A.G.
Website: OperationTAG.org
Phone: 760-456-8748
Separate Free Homeownership Resource
The resource below is separate from this devotional. Scan the QR code to access the free Mission Homeownership PDF e-book.
Mission Homeownership is an educational homeownership resource. The Hometown Hero Credit is a non-profit program that provides a 2% credit up to $21,000 to help eligible military families buy or refinance a home. The credit may be applied to closing fees, buying down the interest rate, real estate agent fees, or, in some cases, paying down debt to help with VA loan qualification. It cannot be used for a down payment or non-loan purposes. The 2% credit is calculated on the loan amount, not the sales price. VA loans generally do not require a down payment. Program terms and availability may vary.
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