When a conflict or misunderstanding arises, it’s so easy to assume the worst about someone’s intentions. Our first response is to receive it as a personal attack. When we pause for a moment and ask if that’s what they meant to do or say, we often discover that’s not what they meant at all. We totally misunderstood.
1 Corinthians 13:7 encourages us to expect the best of others. It tells us that love “keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” This verse reminds us to maintain a positive perspective in our relationships and reflect the love and grace that God extends to us.
When you assume the best, you give the other person the benefit of the doubt and approach situations with grace and a desire to understand. This doesn’t mean ignoring harmful behavior or dismissing your own feelings, but it does mean seeking to understand the other person’s perspective and extending forgiveness when needed.
Improving your relationships takes time, effort, and intentionality, but the rewards are so worth it. As you listen more, ask meaningful questions, release expectations, evaluate your beliefs, stay out of fix-it mode, and assume the best, you’ll begin to see growth and transformation in yourself and in your connections with others.
When you allow God’s truth to shape your thoughts, words, and actions, you will cultivate relationships that reflect His goodness. You can move forward with confidence, knowing that as you love others well, you are walking in the love God has already poured out in you.
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