As for me, I will lie down that I may sleep; I shall certainly awake, for Jehovah himself keeps supporting me. I shall not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves in array against me round about . . .” -Psalms 3:5,6

Fear is a powerful weapon. It can lead to compromise and defeat. When David, Israel’s divinely appointed King, wrote this Psalm, he was on the run from his traitorous son, Absalom, who tried to usurp his throne. From a human standpoint, the scheming plans of Absalom seemed certain to succeed. David faced many disloyal and cunning men who tried to fill him with dread. Yet, in spite of those circumstances, David was absolutely confident that Jehovah God would protect him. He did not lie awake at night worrying about the numerous enemies he faced. He was confident that he would awake free of harm. His complete confidence in Jehovah removed any fear of his enemies. That confidence was rewarded when David was returned to the throne. Jehovah never disappoints his people.

Like David, those who trust in Jehovah never need yield to fear of men. Regardless of what wicked persons might do, Jehovah will not forsake his people, and permit their being effaced from the earth. He hears our prayers and will answer. Therefore, when we are the target of unkind words or actions we have no need to retaliate. “Be agitated, but do not sin. Have your say in your heart upon your bed and keep silent.” -Psalm 4:4. Be confident that Jehovah is fully aware of our situation and will not forget us. Jehovah never disappoints his people.

May we also, therefore, take courage. Continue ascribing salvation to the Most High, who never disappoints. Trust in Jehovah.

“Imagine how you would feel if you entered a footrace and found that you were the only one required to compete in leg irons.”

That illustration aptly describes the nature of injustice. Experiencing injustice, prejudice and oppression can trigger anger, crush one’s spirit, and bring great emotional pain. As one Bible writer observed: “Look! the tears of those being oppressed, but they had no comforter.” (Ecclesiastes 4:1) When injustice is rampant and comfort is scarce, unhealthy anger can easily well up in one’s heart.

Any who experience organized psychological attacks and bullying know well the potential this has for triggering anger in those targeted by it.  ”An anger trigger can be something that frustrates or annoys someone. These triggers often result from injustice or unfairness. They can occur when we feel slighted, such as through insult or disrespect. An imagined threat to our authority or reputation can also stir up feelings of anger.” The wise person understands that we must not allow such anger triggers to provoke us.  How can we gain mastery of our feelings and win the battle against anger triggers?

A well-written and practical aid can be found in the Awake magazine of March 2012, with the cover theme “Why Are People So Angry?” The article, “Why So Much Anger” helps us to understand “anger triggers” and their dangerous potential. “Keeping Anger Under Control” provides practical suggestions on controlling anger and reducing or eliminating its intensity. Awake is published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, and distributed by Jehovah’s Witnesses, and can be downloaded in .pdf format (click here) from http://jw.org.

“O may those who for no reason are my enemies not rejoice over me;

As for those hating me without cause, let them not wink the eye.

For it is not peace that they speak; But against the quiet ones of the earth

Things of deception they keep scheming . . . -Psalm  35:19,20

What if you suffered a great injustice, and were given the opportunity to plead your case before the most powerful authority in existence? Not just any authority, but one with an impeccable reputation for defending the poor, the unprotected and the oppressed? The Bible was written to assure us that we have the ear of just an authority. Please read Psalm 35 in your Bible (follow this link to read online).

David asks God: “As for those hating me without cause, let them not wink the eye.” The winking of the eye would indicate that David’s enemies were gloating over the success of their evil schemes against him. David was requesting of God that his enemies might have no reason to rejoice or exult. We can ask the same of God through prayer. Be confident that all those who call on God with a sincere heart will be heard.

David faced injustices that are similar to what many of us presently undergo. He pleaded his case before Jehovah God, the ultimate authority. Jehovah listened, and came to David’s defense. May the words of this account provide assurance that God listens to our pleas, knows our trials, and will not allow them to continue much longer. Draw strength and comfort from Psalm 35.

“Do conduct my case, O Jehovah, against my opponents . . .” -Psalm 35:1

I have been drawn to the life story of David in the Bible, and the qualities he manifested under adversity. Here is the man who courageously took on the Philistine warrior Goliath as a teenager while all of Isreal’s army cowered in fear.  Yet, he was not a one-dimensional macho-minded video game soldier with a hair-trigger temper. His courage came from love of God, not from aggressive tendencies. An incident that took place shortly before his encounter with Goliath reveals David’s beautiful qualities of humility and mildness.

David, too young to be a soldier, was given the assignment of bringing food to the camp where his older brother was stationed. While at the camp, David hears Goliath from the battle lines of the Philistines taunting the God of the Israelites. David inquired: “What will be done to the man that strikes down that Philistine over there and actually turns away reproach from Israel?” Eliab his older brother, overhears him, get very angry and begins to taunt and slander his younger brother in front of everyone. Not only are his words cruel, and his accusations false, they also catch David by surprise. This is how fights start! Yet, how does young David respond? - 1 Samuel 17: 23-28

“To this David said: “What have I done now? Was it not just a word?  With that he turned about from beside him toward someone else . . .” -1 Samuel 17: 29. What an even-tempered response! Even as a teenager, David demonstrated a mature level of mildness and self-control. There was not a hint of pettiness, anger or vindictiveness in his response. Here was a young man who possessed extraordinary courage, and, the ability to rise above petty insults and humiliation. Can we see why he was chosen by God as a young man to be King over Israel?

What can we learn from David? David trusted completely in Jehovah God. As a result, he had the courage needed to accomplish tasks that left other men frozen in fear. Yet, he had the self-control and mildness needed to deftly handle insults and provocation without anger or pettiness.  David would need those qualities to face distressing challenges as King of Isreal. We need the very same qualities to face our adversities.  Studying the life course of David in the Bible can help us to cultivate and value these essential qualities.

Can you see why I consider the Bible so essential to my success in meeting adversity?

“The wicked do flee when there is no pursuer, but the righteous are like a young lion that is confident.” -Proverbs 28:1

When targeted by daily no-touch torture routines that are designed to destroy self-esteem and instill unwarranted feelings of guilt and fear, it can become quite easy to “flee when there is no pursuer.” In response to a constant pattern of covert psychological “torture,” a climate of fear and self-doubt begins to overwhelm your thoughts. You may be cowed into withdrawing from relationships. and robbed of the strength needed to accomplish goals and take needed initiatives. You begin to believe that you are somehow less worthy than others to pursue a rich and meaningful life. You have convinced yourself to give up and withdraw. However, observers do not see your covert “pursuer,” the psychological and electronic abuse that you are subjected to. They only see your response, and may take this as evidence that you just might be the person that the slander and lies heaped on you says you are. After all, don’t “the wicked flee when there is no pursuer?”

Please keep this in mind: Your withdrawal, or “fleeing,” is the intended result of the psychological pressure that confronts you! Your antagonists want you to give the appearance of guilt by your response. Rather than allow a negative self-image to cause you to mimic “the wicked” and create the wrong impression in the mind of others, what should you do? Take note of the second part of Proverbs 28:1:

“. . . the righteous are like a young lion that is confident.” The book, “Big cats: Kingdom of Might” by Tom Brakefield, makes this observation regarding lions: “Watching a lion walk the savanna, it seems to have an air of confidence and grace in its almost undisputed place in the hierarchy of animals around it . . . To many, it seems a lion has absolute control over its ‘kingdom’ through its strength and grace . . . Even other predators such as cheetahs and leopards will flee lions or give up their kills when challenged”

The point is this: If we have no valid reason “to flee,” emotionally, then don’t! Fight the tendency to withdraw and isolate yourself. Walk through your daily affairs like a “young lion that is confident.” Do not let self-doubt rob you of the strength needed to live life as fully as possible and accomplish necessary goals.

Even as I write this, I am reminded of ways that I must to apply this to myself. There are areas of my life where I have withdrawn and lost confidence. There are goals I have allowed to fall by the wayside due to shaken self-esteem. I must put that behind me. Now is the time to for me to “walk like a young lion that is confident.” To do so, I call on my Heavenly Father for the needed strength in prayer. He will help me. The same one that gives a young lion its strength, can also provide me with “power beyond what is normal.” -2 Corinthians 4:7. He can help you too.

“He who commits injustice is ever made more wretched than he who suffers it.” -Plato

I was sitting in a local shop that I stop in for fried fish once a week or so in downtown Newark. I usually take a seat near the window and gaze out as I eat. The individuals engaging in the no-touch torture harassment skits are plentiful today. They run the gamut from young to old. For some, it is clearly apparent that they operate at the lowest levels, and exist near poverty. Others are working poor. A select group are well trained and organized for more elaborate ’speaking roles” in these psychological attacks. They arrive in vans, mini-buses or SUVs as groups. Yet, there is a common trait in them all. There is a certain wretchedness you detect in each one, to a man.

Their guidance by the officials and psychologists that create these programs of psychological violence does not elevate their lives beyond any financial compensation they receive. In truth, their most unpleasant traits and behaviors are cultivated, exploited and put on daily display, making for a culture of wretchedness. In this sense, they are to be pitied, for their poverty is greater than mine.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word ‘wretched’ in part as “of a poor or mean character . . . The Merriam Webster Dicitonary: “being or appearing mean, miserable, or contemptible.”

What makes a person wretched is not so much a poverty of circumstance, but rather, a poverty of character. We, to a large degree, choose the content of our character. “Mean character” is cultivated, and glorified by these participants in psychological violence, overwhelming what good they possess. For some, it is openly vulgar and overt. For others, it hides, like a dagger, under a thin veneer of insincere charm. However they choose to manifest it, this persistent wretchedness becomes the defining element of their personality.

I make a daily protest against this wretchedness. Not in word, but in how I choose to treat my fellowman. I must do so. Merely by being in the company of such people for months, years on end, you can easily become like them, adopting this poverty of the heart and mind. Far  more than any any physical suffering I may yet undergo, I see this wretchedness of the mind as the worst of all outcomes. It is the most deadly of diseases, and must be fought against.

Not All Are Overcome by Wretchedness
There have been moments when a ray of courage or an act of kindness breaks through the darkness, demonstrating that not all of those employed in the attacks against me are overcome by wretchedness. The psychological attacks against me are part of a systemic form of oppression that has not thoroughly indoctrinated all whom it manipulates.  In hindsight, some have tried to warn me or prepare me as best they could without revealing anything that could put them in danger. It is only now that I understand fully what they were trying to do and the risks they took. I greatly appreciate their efforts.

On one occasion, I was the target of a carefully orchestrated event that was designed to humiliate me to the point that I would respond in anger. It was a well rehearsed public event that could have put me in harms’ way, had I responded improperly. I restrained my emotions and walked away without a hint of vindictiveness. One of the individuals playing a role in this attack silently mouthed the words “thank you.” He did so a second time, looking me straight in the eye to make sure that I got the message. I did. It was his way of letting me know that he was relieved that I was not baited by this attack. I was greatly encouraged by that. Even among those swept up by the system into these macabre programs, there are men and women of conscience.

Equipped to Conquer Wretchedness
“All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must likewise do to them.” (Matthew 7:12) That simple command, given by Jesus Christ helps me to rise above wretchedness. Treating others with respect, dignity, and kindness encourages them to treat you the same way. Of course, not all will respond in kind. Yet, making the personal choice to follow this command, come what may, is a powerful defense against this world’s wretchedness.

Writing this post is a personal reminder for me to continue this fight against wretchedness. The price paid by defeat is too high.  I am confident that my Heavenly Father is delighted when he sees me follow his commands, albeit imperfectly, despite hardship. He will grant me certain victory.

Now, however, there remain faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.—1 Cor. 13:13.

We live in a world where people are being taught to hate. The toxic environment produced by a climate of hatred can cause our love to stagnate and wane. Simply meeting the daily challenge of loveless surroundings can, if allowed, become a full-time occupation in itself. Life must be more that that. I do not want to be known only as someone who coped with a hostile environment and survived. Simply defending myself from hostility is not a life well lived. Our ultimate happiness, and most meaningful pursuits involve showing love for others.  As the Bible reminds us, love is the greatest quality we can cultivate. Therefore, it is my intention to extend myself,  exert myself more in the days ahead to think and act in the best interest of others. I want to be remembered for the good I do, not for the evil that has been done to me.

I attend a weekly Bible school conducted at a Manhattan (NYC) congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. This week, part of our Bible reading assignment was taken from Psalm 94: 1-23. It is a faith-strengthening account that provides assurance that our God sees and acts when injustices are committed against his people. I am posting this Bible passage here in its entirety. Anyone who is a victim of injustice and loves God will find it very encouraging. Be assured that God hears and responds to the pleas for help from all who call out to him in sincerity.

Psalm 94:1-23

O God of acts of vengeance, Jehovah, O God of acts of vengeance, beam forth!

Raise yourself up, O Judge of the earth. Bring back a retribution upon the haughty ones.

How long are the wicked, O Jehovah, How long are the wicked themselves going to exult?

They keep bubbling forth, they keep speaking unrestrained; All the practicers of what is hurtful keep bragging about themselves.

Your people, O Jehovah, they keep crushing, And your inheritance they keep afflicting.

The widow and the alien resident they kill, And the fatherless boys they murder.

And they keep saying: “Jah does not see; And the God of Jacob does not understand [it].”

Understand, YOU who are unreasoning among the people; And as for YOU stupid ones, when will YOU have any insight?

The One planting the ear, can he not hear? Or the One forming the eye, can he not look?

The One correcting the nations, can he not reprove, Even the One teaching men knowledge?

Jehovah is knowing the thoughts of men, that they are as an exhalation.

Happy is the able-bodied man whom you correct, O Jah, And whom you teach out of your own law,

To give him quietness from days of calamity, Until for the wicked one a pit is excavated.

For Jehovah will not forsake his people, Nor will he leave his own inheritance.

For judicial decision will return even to righteousness, And all the upright in heart will follow it.

Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will take his stand for me against the practicers of hurtfulness?

Unless Jehovah had been of assistance to me, In a little while my soul would have resided in silence.

When I said: “My foot will certainly move unsteadily,” Your own loving-kindness, O Jehovah, kept sustaining me.

When my disquieting thoughts became many inside of me, Your own consolations began to fondle my soul.

Will the throne causing adversities be allied with you While it is framing trouble by decree?

They make sharp attacks on the soul of the righteous one And pronounce wicked even the blood of the innocent one.

But Jehovah will become a secure height for me, And my God the rock of my refuge.

And he will turn back upon them their hurtfulness And will silence them with their own calamity. Jehovah our God will silence them.

Can I rightfully say that I am a success in spite of enduring ongoing covert torture and psychological attacks for more than twelve years? Absolutely! When a boxer wins a championship bout, he is then declared world champion. He is not required to wait until retirement to gain his title. He retains his title until he loses a fight. Even then, he can regain it by winning a rematch. In much the same way, I can proudly say that after more than twelve years of struggle, I have fought and won many battles. Indeed, anyone who retains his self-control, albeit imperfectly, despite constant provocation and duress should view him or herself as a champion. Even if we lose the lose the occasional bout, like a true champion we can rise up and regain our title.

However, I cannot take credit for my string of victories. My guide, or coach, has been the superb counsel found in God’s Word the Bible. When followed, the Bible’s wise advice can equip anyone to win the daily battle against evil. Our Heavenly Father knows us better than anyone. He can train any of us to be a champion. His counsel is timeless, and proven. It really works!

I’ve put together a list of the top ten scriptures that have enabled me at the end of each day to thank my Heavenly Father for a day’s battle fought and won. You my find them useful as well:

#1. Romans 12:17-21: “Return evil for evil to no one. Provide fine things in the sight of all men. If possible, as far as it depends upon YOU, be peaceable with all men. Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says Jehovah.” But, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing this you will heap fiery coals upon his head.” Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good.”

I must consider this scripture passage to be the most practical advice I’ve followed over the past twelve years. In fact, it is rare for a day to go by when I do not reflect on it. It provides both a sound defense and brilliant offense when facing evil acts!

The Defensive Strategy
Do not “return evil for evil. Do not avenge yourselves.” The evil we face is most effective when we lose self-control. It is designed to exploit our anger and bitterness. Giving into anger or losing our temper can have disastrous results. It can destroy our health, and damage our reputation. We may do something in the heat of the moment that we spend the rest of our lives regretting. By losing self-control, we put our destiny in the hands of our persecutors.

By rejecting the tendency to be vindictive or vengeful, we minimize of the impact of the attacks we undergo. By maintaining self-control, we also determine the outcome of most attacks.

However, this Bible passage is not telling us to be passive, or simply do nothing. It also suggests the best way to mount an offensive against evil:

A Superb Offensive Strategy
“Keep conquering the evil with the good . . . Provide fine things in the sight of all men . . .” What a brilliant offensive strategy! The best way to meet evil head on is with acts of goodness! Taking the initiative to be kind, even towards those who treat us badly is the best way to conquer evil. Why? Because “you heap fiery coals upon (your enemies) head.” Like ‘fiery coals” can warm the coldest room, you can often soften the heart of the most hateful person to some degree by means of kindness. You will always produce the best possible outcome in any situation by taking the initiative to be kind to others.

Imagine being able to listen in on a meeting held by your persecutors. Instead of discussing your angry responses, all they have to talk about is your good deeds and pleasant manners. You example will, over time, prove that what is being said about you is a lie. Nevertheless, some will become even more determined to hurt you. But keep in mind that many of those participating in your abuse are misguided. They are being lied to. Your good example will become your most powerful witness.

Taking the offensive in this way benefits your mental and emotional health. Being determined to be kind under adversity builds good character and endurance. It exercises and strengthens your capacity for love, essential to good emotional health and well-being.

As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I have the ideal way to soar above the hatred of my persecutors. Our well known public preaching and teaching activity is a core component of our beliefs, and requires cultivating love for strangers. I spend upwards of 40 hours every month in this volunteer work, speaking to neighbors, workmates and strangers. I could not persevere in this without genuine affection for my fellowman.

“I am one of the happiest people in this neighborhood,” I told one individual involved in street level psychological attacks against me.  “Here’s why,” I continued. “I give of my time and energies on a daily basis to help strangers learn about the only hope for mankind from God’s Word the Bible. This is a work that changes lives for the better. The joy and deep satisfaction I get from showing love for strangers in this way triumphs over any adversity I face. In fact, my speaking to you now is an expression of love.”

Taking the initiative to “conquer the evil with the good” with this individual resulted in a pleasant and meaningful Bible conversation.

Indeed, no evil can conquer that sort of love! My public ministry sweeps away the cobwebs of fear and anger, and elevates my thinking and emotions above the petty hatred that surrounds me. It is, for me, the winning strategy in my fight against evil.

A Key To Success for Everyman
The fundamental principle of “conquering the evil with the good” works in every season and setting. Here is a rather humorous video I discovered recently that shows this principle in action. It is a homespun story, yet, it shows the lasting good that can come from following the Bible’s peerless advice. Anyone can use these principles to produce the best possible good. Interestingly, you may find the adversities discussed in this video are not so dissimilar from our own. Can we face our challenges with a similar resolve? Conquer the evil, with the good.

I have focused my efforts recently on understanding and cultivating the noble quality of courage to a greater degree. And for good reason. When targeted by psychological warfare, we need to maintain courage.  However, if we focus on the evil antics of our harassers, we can quickly lose courage, rapidly descending into a state of panic. Our attackers know this. That is why they strive to keep us continually aware of their abusive presence. They want our focus, our constant attention, in an effort to overwhelm us with fear and distress. When that occurs, we lose the ability to make sound decisions and could easily be lured into self-destructive behavior. That is the precise intent of their machinations.

The truth is that we build up more anxiety over what may happen than what has happened. We allow whispers, innuendo, gossip, veiled threats, disapproving glances and other carefully staged encounters to overwhelm our minds with panic. We are responding to the suggestion of danger planted in our mind by a form of covert theater. Our thoughts and emotions are being manipulated primarily by what we see and hear. We cannot give free reign to such thoughts. Control what you think about and you minimize or neutralize perceived dangers. Just as we are selective about the food we allow to enter our bodies for health’s sake, we must be selective in the thoughts we allow to enter our minds and affect our thinking and actions.

To gain and maintain mental and emotional control requires that we focus on things that are positive and upbuilding, not the psychological theatre put on by our attackers. What builds your confidence? What makes you happy and gives you a positive outlook? What inspires your noblest qualities? Make those things your daily focus. Read about them, think about them, make them a visual presence in your daily life. Discuss them in your daily conversation. When you do so you strengthen and stabilize the mind, minimizing emotional damage caused by psychological attacks. A steady diet of healthy thoughts can replenish your courage and self-control.

Here is a caution to consider. Our choice of entertainment and recreation can also uplift us or tear us down. For example, movies that glorify “good guy” violence as a legitimate means of retaliation will not help you to maintain or value emotional control. Choose carefully what you feed your mind, especially now.

Of course, when we make efforts to focus on what is positive and upbuilding, our attackers will work even harder to keep our attention. You must be as persistent as they are. Gain and maintain control of your thinking. Keep positive reading material or recordings with you at all times and train your mind to focus on them. I have found Bible reading and spending a bit of time in nature to be emotionally strengthening. When harassers appear (as they are certain to do), don’t make them your focus. Don’t let your conversations descend into negative topics, be positive with everyone you meet. Control your thoughts and you control your emotions.

Your greatest assets are your heart and mind. How you think and feel must be protected.

“. . .whatever things are lovable, whatever things are well spoken of, whatever virtue there is and whatever praiseworthy thing there is, continue considering these things . . .” -Philippians 4:8

People who enjoy ridiculing others will always find an excuse to do so. “There exist companions disposed to break one another to pieces . . .” -Proverbs 18:24. It does no good to waste our energy and breath trying to correct their prejudiced views. “Those who sneer at others don’t like to be corrected,” observed wise King Solomon. (Proverbs 15:12, Contemporary English Version). Prejudiced comments only expose the speaker’s ignorance, not the victim’s so-called faults.