“Mercy triumphs over judgement.”
James 2:13

We can be very quick to form opinions.

Someone behaves badly and we decide what sort of person they are.

Someone says something thoughtless and we make a judgement.

Someone makes a choice we wouldn’t make, and immediately we know exactly where they went wrong.

Except, of course, we rarely know the whole story.

We don’t know what happened before they arrived.

We don’t know what they are carrying.

We don’t know what kept them awake last night.

We see one moment.

God sees a whole person.

And mercy invites us to remember that.

It doesn’t mean that everything is acceptable.

It doesn’t mean ignoring hurtful behaviour or abandoning healthy boundaries.

It means resisting the temptation to reduce a person to their worst moment.

Because we wouldn’t want God to do that with us.

Perhaps today, when judgement begins to rise quickly within us, we could pause.

Just for a moment.

And wonder:

Is there another way of seeing this person?

Maybe we won’t understand them any better.

But perhaps we can leave a little room for mercy.

Carry this today

Before I judge what I can see, I will remember there may be much that I cannot.

Prayer

Merciful God,
forgive me when I am quick to judge
and slow to understand.
Give me wisdom where boundaries are needed,
compassion where people are struggling,
and a heart that leaves room for mercy.
Amen.