Yesterday we talked about how eliminating dark humor from our lives can help as we seek to live from a place of grace and forgiveness. Today, I want to share with you a fourth thing you can do to more easily let go of the “small stuff” others do that annoys you: assume the best.

When you know a person’s character or they have crossed you before, it’s easy to assume the worst about them. You think to yourself, I know, she’s jealous. He’s angry. He’s gossiping about me. She’s probably working against me, but friend, this is the kind of fear that fuels brokenness in our families and relationships. When we make negative assumptions about the intentions of another, it can easily lead us to live defensively so that our hearts are not open to loving that person. Instead of choosing the “high road,” we may begin to gossip, feel jealous or work against that individual in some manner. However, this is simply not God’s best for your life!

Friend, it’s important to remember that when the enemy attacks you spiritually, he attacks first in the area of your relationships. When you let your heart assume the best about others, you free up your mind to focus on the good things that God has called you to do. Exercise wisdom and don’t allow yourself to be taken advantage of, but in the day-to-day encounters of life, choose to believe the best, and Jesus will meet you there!