Must We "Walk a Mile in Their Moccasins"?

“Don't judge someone until you've walked a mile in their moccasins.”

This American proverb is a good reminder to treat others as we'd want to be treated (Matthew 7:12), making sure we get our facts straight and trying to understand their circumstances before judging their behavior (James 1:19).

But sometimes this train of thought is taken too far. It's not uncommon for people to avoid someone who is suffering because they don't understand what they're going through and don't know what to say. 

It's true that we shouldn't say, “I know exactly how you feel” when we don't. God is the only one who perfectly understands our pain and suffering. 

But listen to this wonderful Romans 8:28 news: when we suffer and draw our comfort from the Lord, He equips us to comfort others: 

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

So let's be careful not to judge things we don't fully understand, but let's be confident to “rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn,” whether we've walked a mile in their moccasins or not (Romans 12:15).

 💙💙💙

For more insights on comforting others, see Romans 12:15 - Rejoice and Mourn. And to avoid the negative “comfort” Job got from his friends, see Job's Judgmental Friends.

NOTE:  

Contrary to popular opinion, this proverb about walking a mile in someone's moccasins isn't a Native American proverb. It became popular because of the poem “Judge Softly,” written in 1895 by Mary T. Lathrap. You can read the poem HERE.

 

BLN