“Look Beneath the Surface”
By Dianne Prince
“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:7, NKJV).
It is easy to judge someone who disappointed us, wronged us, or seems self-absorbed. We label them based on a moment, an offense, or a pattern we disapprove of. But in doing so, we risk missing the heart of God for them—and for us.
When Samuel saw Eliab, he assumed he was God’s chosen based on appearance. But God reminded him that He sees differently. God is not impressed by appearances, nor is He swayed by our human verdicts. He sees the whole story—the motives, the wounds, the growth still underway.
Jesus calls us to go beyond surface reactions. Instead of condemning, we are commanded to forgive. Instead of assuming the worst, we are challenged to believe God is still at work, even in those we struggle with.
You may be right about what someone did—but only God fully knows who they are.
Today, choose to see others through the eyes of God. Ask God for a heart that believes the best, hopes for healing, and leaves room for redemption. The same God who is still working in you is working in them too. Trust Him with the unfinished stories.
