How do you let God reframe your story when you’ve listened to the enemy’s lies all your life? How do you re-examine the distorted view that has reframed the picture of how God sees you? Frequently, my avid reading habit in public settings seems to strike up the most in-depth conversation with others. Just the other day, I had a heart-to-heart with a lady who shared that her friend told her that the potential of her young daughter getting bullied when she attends high school next year was something a mother should accept. ‘I guess that’s just the way it is,’ she sighed. 

Of course, if you have been reading my blogs and especially my books for a while, you wouldn’t be surprised to hear that my inner warrior grabbed her sword quick smart and decided to cut down the lie that had been spoken over this beautiful mother and daughter. ‘Excuse me?’ I said slowly, just so the principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness of this age were paying attention. [Ephesians 6:12] ‘That’s just the way it is…Well, not on my watch, sister!’ And so, for the next ten minutes, she stared at me as I cut through each lie she had accepted for herself and her daughter. Like a seasoned warrior; I sliced and diced each distortion and myth that was trying to frame her story. You’re welcome. 

I shared with this beautiful young mother that she was allowing the bullying her friend had experienced in high school to frame not only her story but her daughter’s story too. I reminded her that as mothers we should rise up and never allow others to narrate our children’s story, or our own for that matter.

As women, we have been listening to the slippery snake since the Garden of Eden, allowing him to frame our stories by telling us half-truths, letting us think that God isn’t capable of reframing our story because ‘That’s just the way it is.’ For the enemy knows that by framing your story, your warrior within will never rise from the ashes of your past. 

Bullies. Did you find that just reading that word evoked and stirred up many painful memories? Me too. Bullying is so cruel and can cause you to pick at scars, triggering thoughts you believed were sealed over and healed long ago. So, how do we become overcomers? How do we allow God to cut through the lies and reframe our story? Well, in the pages of Scripture, we find stories littered with overcomers standing up to bullies trying to narrate their stories. Amazingly, even though each warrior doubted their ability to rise they soon realised if they put their trust in God, the Sovereign One who frames their story, it didn’t matter how many times bullies tried to frame and box them in, it was God who reframed their story. Period.

Let’s zero in on Nehemiah for a moment. He needed God to reframe his story because bullies were trying to frame and narrate the outcome of his God-given calling to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. ‘Get up now! It’s time to rebuild. And so, they began the good work. Our adversaries lost no time either. Joining Samaritan Governor Sanballat (the Hororite) and Official Tobiah (the Ammonite) was an Arab named Geshem. When they heard of our plans, they mocked and ridiculed us.’ Nehemiah 2:18-19  

Nehemiah and his workforce needed to rebuild many gates along the wall. The sheep gate was first, followed by the fish gate, the old gate, the valley gate, the potsherd gate, and the fountain gate. Interestingly, the text says with each gate, ‘they framed it, set its doors in place, and secured it with bolts and bars.’ [Nehemiah 3:1, 3,6,13,14,15].

Know this, when you discover who you are and more importantly, whose you are, the devil will always send bullies to frame your story. Perhaps their names will be changed, but make no mistake, they will always have a Tobias, a Sanballat, or a Geshem spirit that tries to frame your story. Like Nehemiah, you need to frame each gate and set a door, bolt, and bar in place so that the bullies have no access to the chapters of your life. Reframing your story stops the enemy’s lies and bullying tactics from penetrating your thinking, allowing the truth of God’s word to sink into your soul. 

When I read the story of how Nehemiah rebuilt the walls, I just love Nehemiah’s sassy response to his bullies, ‘I am in the middle of a great work and cannot be interrupted.’ [Nehemiah 6:3] This ‘mic drop’ moment from Nehemiah lets Tobias, Sanballat, and Geshem know the bold confidence he had in what God had called him to do. Believe me, they were not happy that their intimidation tactics weren’t gaining the upper hand with this God-focused man on a mission from God. 

But the key to letting God reframe his story was Nehemiah’s confidence, not in his abilities, but in the knowledge that God was reframing the story and nothing was going to stop that. This assurance helped Nehemiah understand that no amount of name-calling, bullying, or cultural framework would stop him from completing his mission to rebuild the walls and frame each gate that strengthened those walls. Nehemiah was in the middle of a ‘great work’ and it was God who had the final say on framing his story, which in turn, helped reframe Jerusalem’s story.

What about you dear friend? Have bullies framed your story? Where do you need to spend time in God’s word so you’re able to use the Sword of the Spirit to cut down and reframe the picture of what God says about you? Where has the spirit of Tobias, Sanballat and Gesham dictated and narrated your story, stopping you from doing great work for God? 

Take my advice, like Nehemiah, the bullies only come when you start doing something about something that isn’t right, not when you just talk about it. All talk and no walk in our faith never causes the bullies to sit up and take notice. It’s only when you start getting into God’s word, allowing His truths to settle in your heart, and then start acting on His promises, you’ll discover the threats, intimidation, schemes, lies, and bullying will arise from the devil because it’s not the ‘I’m going to’ in your faith which brings bullies, but the progress in your faith, the rebuilding of something that puts you on the devil’s radar. 

Don’t allow lies to frame your story, read the story of Nehemiah, and understand that God’s plan for your life will not be interrupted. If something has stirred in your heart to change the narrative of your story, one that has chapters of justice, kindness, empathy, and love then you’re doing great work. And trusting God is the essential component of reframing your story. It’s believing what He has promised over your life to be the picture of your future.

Reverse the curse and don’t let the bullies distract you from your commitment to doing God’s great work. Build something for God one door, bolt and bar at a time. Renew your dedication to God, strengthen your hands, silence those bullies, and let God reframe your story!

Wendy xo 

‘There is nothing to what you are saying. You are making it all up. We knew our enemies’ intent was to intimidate us into stopping our work. They reasoned, “These Jews will stop rebuilding out of fear and discouragement. Progress will grind to a halt.” Instead, I renewed my dedication, strengthened my hands.’ [Nehemiah 6:8-9]