Standing Up for Someone: Speaking Up When Everybody Else Stays Quiet

Hey Carpool Crew, happy Thursday. I hope you're rolling into a great day. Have you ever heard someone getting picked on and your stomach kinda drops, and your brain says, "Somebody should say something," then no one does? I'm Pastor Justin. And listen, this episode is about a moment that every kid runs into at some point, because we've all been there. Let's jump in with the one thing I want you to remember for the ride: sometimes loving like Jesus means speaking up when others stay silent. Listen to this from Proverbs chapter 31, verse 8. "Speak up for those who have no voice, for the justice of all who are disposed." Disposed is a fancy way of saying people who get pushed out, looked past, talked over. People who don't have anybody on their side. And here's the cool part. Those words weren't said by a king or a general. They were said by a mom. Proverbs 31 is a king's mom giving her son advice. She basically said, "Son, when you grow up and people listen to you, don't waste your voice. Use it for people who don't have one." Most kids freeze when someone's getting picked on, not because they're mean, usually because they're nervous. They don't want the attention turning on them next. But if Jesus were sitting with you right now, he would say, you don't have to be the loudest person in the room, but you don't have to disappear either. Sticking up for someone matters. It'll matter to them, and it matters to me. See, it's summer and you're out in the cul-de-sac, out at the park or the community pool. Kids are on bikes. Everyone's having fun. And maybe as everyone's hanging out, someone finds themself getting picked on. You know, somebody says something, then everybody laughs, and then the laughs get louder. The kid, well, he looks like he just wants to leave. You know how that feels. Nobody wants to be in that situation, and that's the moment for you. Now, the easy move is to do nothing, but something inside of you is saying, "I think I'm gonna be brave. I think I'm gonna speak up." See, sometimes bravery looks like, "Hey, knock it off," or, "Hey, that's not cool, man. Cut it out," or just rolling your bike over and saying, "Hey man, you wanna go?" That one move can flip a whole kid's afternoon because suddenly he realizes, "I'm not by myself." See, that's the move Jesus would make. So this week, if you're in a situation like that, here's a couple ideas for you. First, when the teasing starts, say four calm words. "Hey, that's not cool." You don't have to yell it. You don't have to make a speech. You don't have to make a big video about it. You just say, "Hey, that's not cool," and try and move everybody on from that moment to something else, something fun. Second, pull your bike over to the kid getting picked on, or just walk over and just say, "Hey man, come ride with me. Let's go." It'll let that kid know that he's not alone and that he has someone that's there for him. And the third thing, if the situation is bigger than you can handle, go find an adult. Now, there's nothing wrong with admitting that. If you can't handle it, find a parent, find a lifeguard if you're by a pool. Find an adult you can trust and ask them to help. "My friend's getting picked on. I don't know what to do." There's nothing wrong with that. You're not being a tattletale. You're looking out for your friend. Now let's go back to that one thing I wanted you to remember for the ride. Sometimes loving like Jesus means speaking up when others stay silent. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. Hey, and parents, if this podcast is helping your family, consider going over and leaving a rating and a review. It really helps us out. You can head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and it really helps other families discover the podcast. Now, before you go, let's answer this question together. When was the last time you saw somebody sitting alone or getting picked on? And what are you gonna do if it happens again? I'll see you later, Carpool Crew. Have a good one.