Believing the Best in Others

We all have people in our lives who have let us down, or hurt us in some manner. Our flesh may want to seek revenge, stay angry, or even keep unforgiveness in our hearts of the ones who have inflicted pain. Believing the worst in others entails not believing that someone can truly change, or we remember their past behavior instead of what God may be trying to do in their lives.

What if we instead believed the best about others, even if their track record is not so good? Let’s explore some possibilities to this question. What if we did believe the best about someone and they hurt us AGAIN? What if we believe the best about people and they are deceiving and lying to us? What if we have believed the best about someone in our lives and they have wounded us numerous times, too many to count? What if we believed the best in someone and got our hopes up EACH time, only to be let down over and over again? Perhaps you can relate to these questions, maybe you have had a parent that has fallen through for you over the years, and now they want yet another chance in your life. Maybe you have a prodigal child that has promised that THIS time they are leaving their destructive lifestyle.

BUT what if…what if this time is really different and all your fears and worries for how things have turned out before are causing you to lack faith and have hope that anything can be different. Hopelessness is straight from the enemy. We really do not know all what takes place for a person to be delivered or find their way to God. It could have taken a person 100 tries to get set free from their addiction, but the 101th time they are serious. How do you know that maybe each time that person tried to get set free from their addiction, the enemy came after them relentlessly?

BUT as for me, I will always keep hope for anyone lost and that desires to come back to the Lord; even if they have tried many times before to stay the course with God. I will CHOOSE to believe the best about some of my family members who want to stop their addictions and want to serve God. Have I gone through repeated attempts with them before to know God and get sober? Absolutely, way too many times to even remember. My battle is that I got set free years ago from certain addictions, but my family is still trapped in this bondage. Over the years, many in my family have tried several times to get clean and serve the Lord; unfortunately they gave into the deceit of the enemy. BUT I do believe that nothing is impossible for God. My hope is in Jesus Christ and what HE can do, and I know He is a bondage breaker, redeemer, and deliverer.

Just because I believe the best about others, does not mean I become a doormat or naïve.

I can seek God for His Divine wisdom and discernment. I can be led By God, and trust that God will show me when I should intervene. BUT I CAN believe the best and pray for the ones who have lost my trust and want another chance to be in my life.

Forgiveness can happen instantly, but trust takes time. It is wise that if you have been hurt by others that you step back and watch their behavior and not as much listen to their words. Be careful not to point out their past sins, or how they hurt you before in a bitter way. If they are asking for your forgiveness again, then forgive as Christ as forgiven you; and do not hold onto to their past. Is this hard? YES, but with Christ strength and His love it can be done.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

What about you, is there someone that you need to start believing the best in? A spouse, your child, or a friend? What can you do today to believe the best about that person in you?