Did I ever tell you I was bullied by a girl in high school?

It was just this one girl and just this one season, but I never forgot it. She wanted to deck me, and rumor has it she may have etched her plans with a sharp object into a desktop in 2nd period English.

The reason?

A boy. I bet you guessed that.

*Mandy made it known she was not happy I was going to the Friday night football game with her ex-boyfriend. Funny thing though, he went to the game with me then left with her. I was actually relieved and decided they deserved each other.

And just when I thought, phew, this whole Mandy thing was over, something unexpected happened…

Mandy and I became friends. Well, maybe not BFF’s, but friends.

What?

Turns out, she wasn’t the bully I thought she was–she was creative and artsy and amazingly talented. And when I got to know the real her, I liked the real her.

How often do we do that?

Miss out on knowing someone because of what we think we know. I thought Mandy was a bully, and that she was mean and hateful. I saw Mandy through her jealous emotions.

But that wasn’t the real her.

A Broken World Can Break Our Hearts

Circumstances in a broken world can keep us from seeing people for who they really are. I’m not making excuses for negative or sinful behavior, but behaviors stem from what’s going on in the heart.

Are we missing hurting hearts because we go by what we see?

Because we can’t know just by seeing, we have to know by heart.

Hurts won't heal until hearts are bared. Click To Tweet

God heals. He’s our Healer, our Great Physician, and He can heal instantly if He chooses to; but sometimes God chooses you and sometimes He chooses me to see beyond what is etched in a cryptic message and see the cry for help.

And if we’re honest, there are times we may keep people from seeing who we really are and our hurting hearts that need healing. But we’ve got to trust God and who He sends our way because hope can’t float when it’s sinking.

The deepest parts of hearts can be shared over coffee with a friend…

We have to let people in so the truth can come out.

Who are the Mandys in your life?

Everybody has a story and maybe we’re meant to be part of that story.

That person reaching out to you?

What if they are meant to be part of your story? We need the love of community and community needs our experiences and our love.

Thankfully, Mandy never did beat me up, but she taught me something. She taught me that I can miss knowing who someone is because of what someone does. That someone may be the very person who needs to hear about the saving grace and freedom Jesus offers them, for free.

Who are you seeing that you’re not really seeing? Who is seeing you but not really seeing you?

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” Hebrews 6:10 (NIV)

May I pray for you?

Father in Heaven, thank you for my friend reading these words today. Open her eyes to the things of You in this busy, chaotic, and lost world. Allow her to know the ones you want her to know, not just by name but by heart. Guide her in using her gifts to impact the world which may be that person right in front of her. Allow her to trust you enough to let others know her, too. Abundantly bless her, Lord, that she may walk boldly in your promises and share Your truth. Help her allow others to know her, so that Jesus may be known. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Need a little help sharing your faith with a friend? Pick up my free resource: “Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith.”

Peace & Love to YOU,

Doris

*name changed