Song: ”More Than Meets The Eye” by Wounds Heal – Kreg Bryan

Theme: Every person has a story, a struggle, and a journey we may not be able to see.

Opening: Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Starting Our Day Together: A few minutes to get the day started in the right direction.

Today, I want to talk about something we should remember every time we meet another person: There is more to their story than what we can see.

I recently saw a graphic that compared success to an iceberg.

Above the water, you could see the small part of the iceberg representing the accomplishments people notice.

But beneath the water was a much larger part representing things like sacrifice, disappointment, rejection, determination, good habits, and persistence.

And as I looked at that image, I thought: That’s not just true of success.

That’s true of people.

When we meet somebody, we see who is standing in front of us today.

But we don’t necessarily see what it took for them to get there.

We don’t see every disappointment they had to overcome.

We don’t know about every prayer they prayed, every tear they shed, every door that was closed in their face, or every time they had to pick themselves up and start over.

And because we don’t see those things, it can be easy to make assumptions about a person without understanding their journey.

So, this morning, let’s consider a few lessons the iceberg can teach us about how we see and treat one another.

1. What you see is only part of the story

When we see someone who appears successful, we may notice their home, their career, their education, or the respect they have earned.

We may think, “They must have had it easy.”

But what we might not see are the years they spent working, learning, sacrificing, and overcoming setbacks.

We might see a person who speaks confidently in front of a crowd.

What we don’t see is the fear they had to overcome or the times they stumbled before finding their voice.

We might see a couple celebrating a long marriage.

What we don’t see are the difficult conversations, forgiveness, patience, and commitment it took to stay together.

We might see someone who is smiling and encouraging everybody else.

What we don’t see is that they may be carrying grief, facing a health concern, or praying their way through a difficult season.

The person you see today has a history you may know nothing about.

That doesn’t mean we have to know everybody’s story.

But it does mean we should be careful about acting as if we already do.

2. Don’t judge the journey by the moment you witness

Have you ever met somebody on a day when they seemed short-tempered, distracted, or unfriendly?

It’s easy to decide, “That person is rude.”

And sometimes, yes, people do behave rudely.

But before we decide that one moment tells us everything about who they are, it helps to remember that we may be seeing them in the middle of something difficult.

Maybe they just received troubling news.

Maybe they are caring for a loved one.

Maybe they are exhausted.

Or maybe they’re dealing with a struggle they haven’t shared with anyone.

The Bible gives us a helpful reminder: “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” – James 1:19, ESV

Being slow to speak and quick to listen gives us room to understand before we react.

It gives us an opportunity to extend a little grace.

That doesn’t mean we have to accept mistreatment or ignore unhealthy behavior.

We can set appropriate boundaries and still recognize that we may not know the whole story.

Give people room to be human, just as you would want them to give you room to be human.

3. Be careful about comparing your journey to someone else’s

Sometimes we look at where another person is and wonder why we aren’t in the same place.

We see their promotion, their ministry, their business, or their achievement, and we begin to feel like we are falling behind.

But here’s the question: Are you comparing your whole journey to the small part of theirs that you can see?

You may see the recognition, but you don’t know how long they prepared.

You may see the opportunity, but you don’t know how many times they were rejected.

You may see their strength, but you don’t know what they had to endure to develop it.

And just as importantly, your journey is your journey.

Your circumstances, responsibilities, opportunities, and challenges may be different.

Someone else’s success doesn’t mean there is no room for you.

Celebrate what God is doing in their life, and stay faithful to the work in front of you.

As I often say, “Be better today than yesterday, and get right today what I got wrong yesterday.”

Your progress may not look like somebody else’s, but it still matters.

4. Recognize the work—and the people—behind the achievement

When we see someone accomplish something, it is good to celebrate them.

But it is also good to recognize that most people did not make the journey entirely alone.

Behind an accomplishment, there may have been a parent who encouraged them, a teacher who believed in them, a spouse who stood beside them, a friend who listened, or someone who opened a door.

There may have been people praying for them when they didn’t have the strength to pray for themselves.

So, when we look at a person’s success, let’s remember the unseen support as well as the unseen effort.

And when we look at our own lives, let’s take a moment to thank God and the people who helped us along the way.

None of us knows everything another person has contributed to the success we see.

5. Treat people with compassion

If we understand that there is more beneath the surface, then that understanding should change the way we treat people.

It should make us more willing to listen.

It should make us slower to judge.

It should make us more generous with encouragement.

And it should remind us that the person in front of us is more than their title, their appearance, their circumstances, or the brief moment in which we encountered them.

Colossians 3:12 calls us to put on “compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”

Imagine what might happen if we carried those qualities into our conversations today, in our homes, our workplaces, our churches, and our communities.

You don’t have to know every detail of someone’s story to treat them with dignity.

And a simple act of kindness may mean more than you realize.

A thought for today

The next time you meet someone, picture that iceberg.

Remember that what you see above the surface is only a small part of who they are.

Beneath the surface may be years of perseverance, loss, faith, sacrifice, growth, and hope.

So instead of rushing to a conclusion, consider asking yourself:

• What might this person have overcome to be where they are today?

• Am I judging them based on one moment or one part of their story?

• How can I show them kindness and respect, even when I don’t know what they’re carrying?

And remember this for yourself, too: Even if others don’t see the work you’re doing or understand the road you’ve traveled, your journey still has value.

Today’s challenge

Today, take a moment to encourage someone.

It might be a family member, a coworker, a friend, or someone you encounter along the way.

You could say, “I may not know everything you’ve been through, but I’m glad you kept going.”

And if someone has helped you along your journey, reach out and thank them.

Closing prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for waking us up and giving us another day.

Help us to see people with compassion and to remember that every person has a story we may not know. When we are tempted to judge too quickly, teach us to pause, listen, and show grace.

Help us to appreciate the people who have supported us, and give us the wisdom to encourage someone else along the way. And for those who are struggling beneath the surface today, Lord, remind them that You see them, You love them, and they are not alone.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Closing

As you go through your day, remember: There’s more to a person than what you see, and there’s more to their journey than what you know.

So, let’s be patient, let’s be kind, and let’s give people the grace we hope others will give us.

Thank you for joining me for Starting Our Day Together.

Have a blessed day, and let’s get it started in the right direction.