“Don’t Judge a Book by It’s Cover…”

We huddled around the campfire waiting for our turn with the “talking stick” and listening closely to one another. One by one, girls were sharing their testimonies and revealing things about their lives that they had never shared before. Something stirred in my heart when someone burst into tears about something they had struggled with for years. I felt ashamed at assumptions I had made about these girls’ lives and struggles. I am sorry to say it, but I have made wrong, judgemental assumptions about other people based on their personalities or circumstances. Many of you have heard the old saying, “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” How many of us not only say this, but act on it? Yes, there are certain assumptions that are okay to make (such as what colors they like…), but there are many assumptions we can make that are just downright unfair. In fact, a better name for those assumptions is “judging”. Sometimes we might see a struggling student and immediately think that they must be lazy. Maybe we see a person who loves to joke and is very hyper. Soon, we may find ourselves thinking that the individual must not be a very good Christian because they probably don’t think very deeply. These are examples of judging. We often are guilty of it, but we don’t give it a second thought. I don’t want to be judged quickly, and I am sure you don’t either! I’ve realized my sin, so I have decided to challenge myself and the rest of you with this: Do not judge someone off of the way they look, sound or maybe even act. I am not saying you should be not discerning about who you are hanging out with and making sure that they are good influences. You shouldn’t trust someone who has proven themselves untrustworthy on multiple occasions. But some of the funniest people I have met are using humor to cover up pain or insecurity. When we judge these people, we can miss the opportunity to encourage someone in need or to share the gospel. I am going to leave you with this last thought. Nobody’s perfect. Sometimes we are tempted to think that that popular girl or cute guy is perfect, but this is such a dangerous assumption! We all are struggling with our own insecurities, trials, and sin. We alI need encouragement, but judging stunts encouragement. I don’t want to miss out on encouraging someone, and I don’t think you want to miss out either. Be that friend you have always wanted, and don’t judge a book by it’s cover. ❤