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\u201cWish I could join in,\u201d Juan thought bitterly, nursing his sore ankle while his friends played soccer in the park. \u201cEveryone\u2019s changing. Cole has left church, and Tre constantly demands his own way.\u201d Loneliness crept inside Juan as he held on to his brand-new sketchbook. \u201cLord, help me,\u201d he prayed. \u201cI don\u2019t fit in anymore.\u201d A gust of wind blew open the sketchbook, and a drawing of Cole appeared with a message: Personal tragedy last summer. He\u2019s not sure anymore if God is good. He\u2019s struggling, but he\u2019s afraid to open up because of his broken heart. Juan rubbed his eyes and stared. Within seconds, the drawing disappeared. He glanced at his friends, who were still absorbed in the game. A memory of Cole arriving at school after summer break flashed in his mind, how Cole quickly earned the reputation of class joker. How could Juan have guessed Cole was hiding pain? Then, Tre\u2019s picture appeared on the page with the following words: Oldest son from a large family. He has to sacrifice a lot for his younger brothers. Sometimes he feels neglected. He has a loving and generous heart. Juan dreaded what would be revealed about him. The pages rustled. A sketch of Juan sitting alone in the park appeared with the words: My loved and valuable son, I care about you deeply. I also care about your friends. You all need me. Let me be the judge. Look at the cross and remember how I took the judgment for each of you. Let me teach you how to love. Juan put his hands on his head and prayed. \u201cLord, I\u2019m sorry,\u201d he prayed. \u201cI judged them so harshly. I didn\u2019t know they had hidden problems. I can only imagine how hard it would be to have a terrible tragedy or such a huge amount of responsibility.\u201d Won\u2019t be long, Juan, his friends shouted. Once we finish this game, let\u2019s all grab something to eat. Waving back, Juan knew what he wanted to do. \u201cYes, Lord,\u201d he prayed, \u201cI want to love my friends instead of judging them. Help me follow you.\u201d Cindy Lee Do you struggle with judging others? It\u2019s easy to fall into, especially when we feel left out. But only God knows a person\u2019s heart. How does knowing Jesus help us love instead of judge? Have you been judged or treated unfairly? Jesus understands you deeply and offers hope by His saving grace and mercy. You can take your concerns to Him, remembering His tender love for you. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:13b (CSB)\n\xa0\nRead Verses:\nMatthew 7:1-5; John 15:9-12; Romans 14:9-13; James 4:11-12