Pitch Black

Junior high is its own special brand of awkwardness. The girls will sit across the room, silently mouthing “elephant juice” just to mess with the boys, and the boys—absolutely clueless—swear they’re seeing “I love you.” A harmless joke becomes a full‑blown crisis and dies by lunchtime, only for something worse to rise from the ashes.

My sixth through eighth grade years were particularly awkward. I moved through the halls with that classic junior‑high slouch, shoulders caved in like I was trying to disappear. I avoided eye contact with teachers, friends, and especially girls. And somehow, I had managed to become the most unpopular boy in the class.

There was a group of bullies who harassed me often. They stole my lunch money, called me names, and threatened to beat me up. They promised to stop if I betrayed my few friends and joined them. The answer was always—no. So, they continued their onslaught.

I wish I could claim innocence, but I played my own quiet war games against them. Yet I remained greatly restrained because Jesus commanded that we love our enemies (Matthew 5:44). Many times, I just smiled as they taunted me.

I didn’t listen to their music or wear their clothes. Sometimes I sat alone at lunch—dreadful. I held back the sharp, pointed comebacks they used so easily. I felt more like a dartboard. But even if I did “all the cool things,” it wouldn’t have mattered. I knew exactly why I was hated.

In the back of my mind sat my list of “weaknesses” that had been spoken over me. I was below average, behind, and had no strengths. And it wasn’t just obvious to me—the entire school must have sensed it. And to make matters worse, my grades continued to plummet from C’s into F’s. Between the tears, anger, and failing grades, I was on the verge of completely losing myself. Fortunately, someone decided to intervene as the darkness circled me.

“If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”

Matthew 6:23