The topic of judgement has been on my mind for some time. And it pertains to me. Here is the truth of the matter. I’m looking at the young people with an older set of eyes. I see things differently now than when I was young. I know the consequences of making poor decisions. I’m sure I’m not alone in my thinking.
I’ll give you some examples. Let’s say I pass judgement on how a young woman is dressed today. Before I open my mouth, I need to ask myself. How did you dress at that age? Miniskirts were in style when I was a teen. A comment was once made that I wore facecloths for skirts. That’s a good indicator of how mini they were! Did I draw the attention of the boys? You bet; and not the right kind of attention either.
Do I have the right to pass judgement on teens who become pregnant? Certainly not; because I know how easily it can happen. At the age of 17, I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend. Getting pregnant hadn’t entered my mind. Imagine my shock when told I was pregnant. A baby was on the way whether I was ready for motherhood or not. The father and I did the honorable thing and got married, but the marriage did not last.
Do I have the right to pass judgement on those whom get a divorce? My long-time friend makes a good point. “A pancake has two sides.” Another way of saying, there’s two sides to a story. How can I judge someone else when I’ve been divorced myself?
People pass judgement on those whom decide to leave their church to attend another. These decisions do not come easily. I know because I’ve been there.
John 8:7 in the Bible says, “Let the one among us who is without sin cast the first stone.” Based on my own life experiences I have no right to judge anyone. Have I made mistakes? Yes, plenty of them, but through God’s grace and forgiveness, I was able to move passed them. I would not be who I am today without the help of my heavenly Father.
Father, I repent for the times I passed judgement on another. Please forgive me. Help me to be compassionate and understanding, not judgmental towards others. Help me see them as You do, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Great message Anne-Marie! Thank you for sharing such personal experiences and lessons. At the end of our lives when we face our creator, we answer to God and none other. God knows our hearts. When people judge me, I kindly remind them “Until you walk a mile in my shoes, kindly do not judge me for my decisions.” I once shared with someone that I had a short marriage of 7 months and they burst out laughing stating that a short marriage doesn’t count. That was their ignorant perspective and reply until I told them that I ran for my life when he attempted to murder me with a butcher knife after keeping me locked up for those 7 months. Staying 7 months was already too long fighting for my life and I ended up in a shelter in police custody in hiding for 11 months. Never judge or laugh at another individual for their choices.
Psalm 138:8 The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever-do not abandon the works of your hands.
Psalm 135:14 For the Lord will vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants.
Thank you for reading my post and leaving a comments. It means a great deal to me. Back in 2006, I married a man named David. I left him in 2010. His behavior caused me to be very afraid of him. The fear was very real for me, whether others understood it or not. You do, because you’ve experienced that kind of fear. The Lord was with us then, and He is with us now. I take great comfort in knowing He will never leave us or forsake us ever!
One can take comfort from:
Hebrews 13:5 I will never leave you, nor forsake you.
Isaiah 43:2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you