Have you ever met someone who tried to place you before they really knew you?
For me, it usually happens within minutes of a conversation. People hear my northern accent and pause. “You’re not from Virginia,” they say. “You sound like you’re from New York.” I laugh every time. I’ve heard it so often I almost want to hand out business cards that say, Yes, I’m from the North.
But the truth is, I’m from humble beginnings in Boston. And that accent? It’s just a reminder that where you start and where God is taking you don’t always look the same.
People see me now and assume I’ve got it all together. “He’s successful,” they say. “He’s doing well.” And I’m grateful for that. But most don’t see the road God walked me down to get here.
I have a picture of myself as a teenager, standing in front of the apartment building we grew up in. I wasn’t wearing designer clothes, or had a pocket full of money. There was no family car waiting outside. We were just a family that wouldn’t give up. And even then, I didn’t realize God was preparing me into the man I would become.
On paper, we weren’t supposed to make it. You know how people love statistics. They’ll tell you what your zip code says about your future. But God has never been moved by a zip code. He sees what others can’t.
Looking at that picture now reminds me of something simple but important: before you form an opinion about someone, take the time to understand their story. It’s easy to judge from the surface, or criticize when you don’t have the full context. But every person has a story only God truly knows.
I’ve learned that a lot of the criticism that comes your way, comes from people you wouldn’t go to for advice.So why let their words define you? Their opinions reflect their own limitations and perspective, not the truth of who you are. God’s view of you is the only one that matters.
Here’s what changed everything for me: God's kindness. The Bible says in Romans 2:4 that it’s God’s kindness that leads us to repentance. Think about that for a second. It wasn’t fear, threats, or condemnation. It was His love and kindness.
But that alone wouldn’t have been enough. I needed perspective. I needed someone to see me beyond my circumstances. My environment didn’t change who I was. God did.
I’ve always worked hard. I’ve always tried to live with loyalty and excellence. But even that didn’t come from me alone. It came from knowing, deep down, that my life had purpose. That even in a small apartment in Boston, God was paying attention, and molding me.
That’s the kind of kindness Jesus showed when He walked the earth. In Matthew 9:36 it says He saw the crowds and had compassion on them. He saw people who were tired and burdened… and He was moved with compassion. He didn’t dismiss them or reduce them to their struggles.
And then there’s Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another.” That verse hits the heart differently when you’ve been on the receiving end of God’s mercy. When you remember how patient He has been with you, it changes how you see others.
Even on the cross, in one of the most painful moments in history, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). His focus wasn’t on retaliation. It was on love. On showing the world what life in God really looks like.
So when people comment on my accent, or assume they know my story, I smile. Not because they’re wrong, but because they’re only seeing the finished chapter, not the whole book.
Yes, I’m from Boston, and yes, we didn’t have much: but the hand of God was on me the entire time.
Sometimes God doesn’t reveal you until it’s the right time. He builds you in private before He lets you stand in public. And when you finally do stand, it’s never for your glory. It’s always for His.
Everything I am today… every opportunity, every lesson, and every ounce of growth… comes from Him. Not me or my environment.God alone has formed me, and God alone deserves the glory.
So here’s what I want you to remember: don’t let someone’s surface-level view of you make you forget the work God is doing in your life. Don’t let criticism from people define your character. Because, where you start and where God is taking you don’t always look the same.
Pray with me.
Father God,
Thank You for Your loving kindness. Thank You for keeping me when I didn’t even know I needed keeping. Thank You for shaping me beyond my surroundings. Help me to walk in compassion, to extend grace, and to never forget where You brought me from. May my life point back to You and give You all the glory.
