The Waiting RoomSample

Day 1: The Boy Behind the Bully

In The Waiting Room, Bob watched as Mr. O activated the Way-Back, a machine that can look back to the past, to reveal the truth behind Karl: the boy who once tormented him. Bob saw what he had never known. Karl was beaten daily by his older brother, Tom, who later died in a North Vietnamese prison.

When Karl learned of Tom’s death, he collapsed in despair until a woman named Anna shared the gospel with him. He surrendered his life to Christ, was baptized, and later became a missionary in Peru who fed the hungry and cared for the poor.

Bob realized he had judged Karl based on a single moment, but God saw the entire story. When he chose to forgive, the bitterness he had carried for decades lifted, and peace flooded his soul.

We often carry anger toward those who have hurt us, forgetting that most pain has a backstory. God does not excuse sin, but He calls us to look deeper with compassion. Forgiveness is not weakness; it is trust that God’s justice is greater than our own.

Reflection Questions:

• Who have I judged without understanding their pain?
• How could seeing someone’s full story change my heart?
• What would it mean to extend grace today?

Prayer:

Father, I have judged others by what I could see. Open my eyes to the pain behind their actions. Replace hardness with compassion, and teach me to forgive as You have forgiven me. In Jesus’ name, amen.