Seeing Others (Even Frustrating Ones) Through God’s Eyes

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

What is wrong with people? Ever spat that out of your mouth in frustration?

It’s easy to justify our frustration with others. Daniel prided himself on being hardworking and expected the same from everyone else. “People should give their all,” he reasoned to himself. When people didn’t do what he thought they should, it was incredibly frustrating to Daniel and he judged them harshly—calling them lazy, inconsiderate, unreliable. One day, he read these words of Jesus: “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged” (Matthew 7:2). Daniel felt a pang of conviction. That night, his humbled prayer was, “God, I want You to be merciful to me. Help me be more merciful and understanding with others.”

For you, maybe it’s the rude coworker or careless driver or quirky family member. When it comes to others, God says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). The more we dwell on what irritates us about people, the less room we have for kindness. God made a lot of very different types of people for His world. They’re not all going to think or act like me or how I think they should.

What if instead of filling our minds with frustration, we trained them to reflect God’s grace? While God is high and holy, the Bible says He lives with humble people (Isaiah 57:15). One wise pastor once wrote, “[God is] saying, ‘I dwell in your thoughts. Make your thoughts a sanctuary in which I can dwell.'”[1] If frustration has taken over your thinking, pause and ask: “Do I know their full story?” Instead of, “They’re so inconsiderate,” consider, “Maybe they’re struggling today. God, help me see others with Your love.”

[1] A. W. Tozer, compiled by James L. Snyder, Tozer on Worship and Entertainment (Camp Hill, PA: Christian Publications, 1998), 10-11.