Two-minute read.
Have you ever made a snap judgment, followed through on it, and then regretted it later? I certainly have, more times than I can even begin to confess. Most of those decisions revolved around taking things personally that had nothing to do with me. But of course, because of my self-absorbed, sinful nature, I made it about me. If only I had sought the Lord before jumping to wrong conclusions and causing harm in the relationship.
One time that sticks out in my mind and makes me cringe happened at a women’s tennis retreat that I led. Captaining a United States Tennis Association (USTA) team, we traveled to Wintergreen for an intensive weekend of training. The tennis pro, whom we had worked with before, didn’t realize I had taken over as team leader. As our Friday night session got underway, he kept addressing the old captain for guidance, ignoring me. And I let his actions get to me. Instead of explaining, I now led the team; I developed an attitude that needed no words, ignoring the easy solution, and allowing my anger to build.
“Is everything ok?” he asked, becoming aware of my negative body language.
“No, I didn’t organize this weekend to come here and be disrespected.”
Lord, how I wish I could take back those words. And how I wish I had put my trust in you first instead of letting my selfish ego take the lead. If I had sought God in prayer, I would have allowed Him to speak to my heart. Instead of letting pride seep into my soul’s core, I would have received the Lord’s grace, which would have softened my heart instead of hardening it. Once we build a wall around our core, it becomes difficult to penetrate. Only when we turn to the Savior will the bricks fall, and our hearts soften.
Instead of letting anger build, I could have resolved the situation with kind words and not caused the cringeworthy memory. Once the pro realized his mistake, he quickly adjusted his approach, and things went well the rest of the weekend. But I still feel bad for my harsh words and wish I could take them back.
Instead of jumping to quick conclusions from your limited perspective, ask the Savior for His viewpoint. Let God lead you on the right path by allowing Him to go first. Trust in Jesus, follow His cues, and you will have healthier relationships and fewer regrets.
Journal Questions:
When has a quick judgment damaged a relationship in your life?
How can you find ways to pause and seek God’s viewpoint before acting?
In what ways can you actively trust the Savior first?
Friendship Application:
Ask God to give you His perspective on a problematic relationship.
