Giving Others The Benefit Of The Doubt - The One Year Daily Acts of Kindness Devotional

Giving Others the Benefit of the Doubt

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8

I’ve been told that when I was young, I would often side with the underdog in any given situation, and that when someone I loved was making poor choices, I could still find the good in who they were as a person.

Much of my response to others was shaped by my father. Many times after someone had spoken harshly or been unkind, he would tell me, “You never know what they’re going through. Maybe they’re facing something really hard in their own lives.” Although my parents never allowed others to take advantage of them or be cruel, I continually heard and watched them give others the benefit of the doubt. They always reminded us children that not long ago they, too, were not very loving or kind people, until God changed their lives and their hearts.

We have a choice in how we think about and treat other people. Oftentimes what we see on the surface may not be all of what someone is experiencing. We often don’t see the secret pain or hurt that others are feeling in their lives. We should recognize that we all face hurts, obstacles, and challenges in life, which help remind us to extend grace and kindness toward others. Even when others may not deserve it, we need to remember that love covers a multitude of sins and it’s up to us to extend this love.

We can always control the things we say and the way we respond to people, no matter their words or actions. We can give others the benefit of the doubt by considering what may lie beneath the surface and imagining all that a person may be facing. This, in turn, will give us the grace to withhold an unkind response and instead speak blessings over that person’s life.

—Kendra

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

When faced with the option of speaking unkindly in response to someone’s harsh words, choose to bless and encourage them instead.