I got to thinking about how easy it is to generate
misunderstandings and hurt feelings in our culture. We keep a mental list of
slights against us—real or imagined, intentional or unintentional—and then we
use those to justify mistreating others the way we think we’ve been mistreated.
That’s now how the golden rule is supposed to work. “So whatever you wish that
others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets”
(Matthew 7:12 ESV).
The thing is, the human race is notoriously poor at
communicating clearly because we all make assumptions about what other people
are thinking or saying. We have no way of answering all the questions and
objections that run through another person’s mind. Whether it has to do with
political or social issues, church leadership, office communication, or family
relationships, people are going to be hurt along the way. And the more people
who are involved in our lives, the higher the likelihood of miscommunication. (Living
in Siberia is starting to sound appealing.)
It’s nice to know that God never misunderstands us, even
when we don’t understand ourselves. He knows every thought and intent of our
heart, and He loves us unconditionally in spite of all that He knows (Psalm
139). That’s not to say that we always understand Him since His thoughts are
far outside our own understanding (Isaiah 55:8-9).
- When loved ones disappoint us, God’s arms are always wide open to us.
- When we feel forgotten or overlooked, God is still paying attention.
- When someone cuts us out of their life or unfriends us, God keeps holding on to us.
- When others are offended by our viewpoint, God affirms everything that is true.
- When we make mistakes and hurt others, God still loves us and cares for us.
Micca Campbell
comments in An Untroubled Heart, “You may feel
like you’re lost for good, but God knows where you are. You have not escaped
His attention. The Father knows His children and calls them by name. Those who
follow Him will find their way home and be welcomed with open arms. With a
Father’s heart, God is waiting and watching from the front porch of heaven for
your return.”
There are days when those welcoming arms seem like the only
bright spot in an otherwise frustrating and fruitless day. God says, “I have
loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued My faithfulness
to you” (Jeremiah 31:3). “You did not choose Me, but I chose you” (John 15:16).
Sometimes that’s all you need to know.
