Hey, Carpool Crew. Happy Friday. Welcome back to Carpooling with Jesus. I'm Pastor Justin. You know when your teacher gave you a look, it's just a look, for about one second, and you've decided that all afternoon that she's mad at you? I've had teachers look at me like that before, and sometimes they're mad at me, sometimes they're not. It all depends. But let's jump in with the one thing I want you to remember for the ride. You only heard one side yet. Listen to this from Proverbs chapter eighteen verse seventeen. "The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines it." Now, this is a legal idea. You might have heard this if you've ever watched a TV show about a courtroom. Someone, you know, shares on the stand what they saw or what happened, and then another person, a lawyer usually, gets up and does a cross-examination, asks different questions, tries to see it from a different side. See, here's what's going on. This is a proverb about how people figure out what's true. The first person to tell their side always sounds right. Every piece fits. Then someone else asks questions, and suddenly the story starts to look a little different. So who told the first side of, "My teacher is mad at me"? You did. You're the only one who said anything. Your teacher hasn't said a word. She doesn't even know there's a case being built. You built the whole thing after one look, and you built it all in your mind. And I know it sounded right to you, but it was the only thing happening at the moment. You just assumed that she must have been mad. Now, here's what usually happened. A grown-up had maybe a hard morning. Maybe she was thinking about something else. Maybe she spilled coffee on her clothes and had to change really fast. I've done that before. The look wasn't about you at all, but you can't know that from your side alone. You need to see the other side. Sometimes a teacher is a little frustrated with you, sure. I have had teachers frustrated with me. That's real. Either way, the fix is the same. You gotta find out. Maybe it's a teacher, maybe it's a friend who didn't text you back. Maybe it's a coach that after a bad practice, you were on the bench the whole next game, or one of your parents when they're quiet in the car. Hey, this week, if you're in a situation like this, here's what I want you to do. Go ask. Walk up before class, catch them in a hallway, you know, maybe give them a phone call, or if it's a parent, obviously, you live with them, say, "Hey, are we okay? Things seemed off." Now, most of the time, the answer will surprise you, and before you ask, tell God, "I only know my side. Help me find out the truth." Now let's go back to the one thing I wanted you to remember for the ride. You only heard one side yet. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And parents, real quick, tomorrow on Carpooling with Jesus, we're walking into a gym where you don't know one single person and how God is already in there. And Sunday, we're on loud noises, the hand dryer, the fireworks, and the gym at full volume. And kids, what do we do when our whole body reacts? For less than the cost of a cup of coffee a month, you and your family could be a subscriber. You can subscribe on Apple Podcast or Spotify. Now, before we go, let's answer this question together. When was a time you were sure someone was upset with you and it turned out to be nothing? I'll see you tomorrow or next Monday on Carpooling with Jesus.
