“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” – Benjamin Franklin
I’d like to add a third: people will fail you.
I have a pretty pessimistic view of humanity. We, the human race, are…
broken,
prideful,
selfish,
wretched,
depraved,
hateful,
evil.
We fail each other and we fail ourselves.
People will use you. For what they want, for what they need.
People will say they love you. But they don’t know what real love is.
People will say they care. But they don’t know how to show it.
People will become bored with you or become boring themselves.
People will abandon you. Leave you when something better comes along or when they no longer need or want you.
People will hurt you. Whether it be intentional or not.
People will forget about you. Out of sight, out of mind.
People will tell you lies about yourself. You will tell you lies about yourself.
People will not be trustworthy. We lie, cheat, steal, and hide.
People will be shallow. We look at the surface level. We look at beauty, fame, wealth, earthly success.
People will busy themselves. They won’t have time for you. Not because they are busy but because they can’t stand to be left alone with their thoughts in silence or in idleness.
People will not live to their potential. Because they don’t like change or because they don’t see that they could be more of the person they were created to be.
People will make you cry. Either because they will bring you pain or they will be in pain.
People will infuriate and frustrate you. Because they are unjust. Because they don’t make sense. Because they will never live up to your expectations.
People will annoy you. Because everyone gets annoyed and everyone is a bit annoying.
But…
People will make you laugh. They will bring you joy. You will make memories with them that you will treasure even when it hurts, even when they have become bittersweet.
People will love you. Not always very well, but in ways that they can.
People will comfort you or attempt to, at least. They might not know how, but they will try to be there for you.
People will be compassionate and kind. Even if it’s for some ulterior motive, they will do something for someone else aside from themselves.
People will encourage you. It could be a little compliment, a good hug, or a few words of truth precisely at the moment you need it.
People will listen when you need to vent or verbally process through things. And they will talk when you need to hear what they have to say.
People will try to know you. Maybe only small parts of you or maybe lots of big parts of you.
People will be your friends, your family, your romantic interests, your neighbors, your mortal enemies, your acquaintances, your community.
People aren’t perfect. I know that to be true of other people and I know that to be true of myself. People will never fulfill everything you want or everything you need. Not all relationships are good and not all relationships were meant to last forever.
However, my hope is not in people. My hope is not in humanity. My hope is in the God that does not fail.
The God who is…
perfect in every way,
who knows you in every little detail,
always wanting you,
never forgetting you,
never leaving you,
never evil,
never ending,
always trustworthy,
always listening,
never too busy for you,
always wise,
always just,
always loving,
always patient,
always kind,
always good,
always comforting,
always your friend,
always truthful,
always teaching and guiding,
always constant,
always faithful,
always glorified,
worthy of praise.
