This will not be for everyone,
But everyone can benefit from this thought.
You will not realize your own limitations
Until you look past the cover of another life.
We’ve all heard it before: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
It’s a reasonably modern proverb.
It reminds us to look deeper, think longer,
Then suspend judgment until we understand the whole story.
And yet, how quickly we forget this
When faced with someone who doesn’t quite match our expectations.
Or with someone who has a past or future we cannot comprehend.
Maybe it’s the clothes they wear,
the way they speak,
where they come from,
or how they carry themselves.
Perhaps it’s more revealing when it comes from a secret or tidbit of history.
We size them up in a moment and categorize them mentally, as if we know their whole story.
But truthfully, we don’t.
And just like books,
We are full of unexpected pages, untold chapters,
And plot twists that can change everything.
Consider Jesus
One of the most potent examples of grace and depth came from Jesus Himself.
He dined with tax collectors.
He conversed with Samaritans.
He reached out to lepers.
Time and again, He looked past the surface and saw the soul.
He didn’t focus on the cover—He knew the heart.
“Do not judge according to appearance,
But judge with righteous judgment.”
John 7:24
Righteous judgment doesn’t come from a snap opinion—it comes from prayer, patience, compassion, and a desire to understand.
Jesus taught the lesson about the Good Samaritan.
It was the unexpected helper that ruled the day.
The person who looks unapproachable might be carrying more pain than you know.
The quiet one might have deep waters of wisdom.
The one who seems like a mess might be the most courageous soul you’ll meet.
Every person is a walking story,
We only get to read their pages if we take the time to look past the cover and open the book.
What Happens When We Look Deeper?
When we withhold judgment and choose grace, we open doors instead of closing them.
We create room for relationships.
We mirror the love of Christ.
And we might even discover that what we initially thought was a rough draft is a masterpiece in the making.
Samuel was asked to go to Jesse’s house
For there would be the replacement King in the making.
As the sons passed by, God said, “Next.”
As the last one stood, Samuel said, “Surely this one.”
But God had the last word.
But the LORD said to Samuel,
“Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature,
because I have refused him.
For the LORD does not see as man sees;
for man looks at the outward appearance,
but the LORD looks at the heart.”
(1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV)
So the next time you’re tempted to judge the book by its cover, pause.
Lean in. Listen.
And let God show you what’s written on the pages.
Let Him show you His Heart.
Thank you for reading.
Please share with others.
It helps me get my book written!
(Below, you may find other topics similar to this one. Please read on!)