6 I hereby declare, “You are gods,
children of the Most High—all of you!
7 But you will die like mortals;
you will fall down like any prince.”
Today’s reflection is written by Abby Clark, one of our summer high school interns through the Cultivate summer intern program. Thank you, Abby!
Reflection
Have you ever judged someone? Truly judged them — not for a mistake they made or something they chose, but for something they cannot change? Something that is simply a part of who they are?
As human beings, we are all made from the same source. We all carry differences — eye color, gender, shape, different skin tones, different bodies, different ways of being — but we share the same breath of life. We are all children of God.
In Psalms 82:6-7, it says, “You are gods, children of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, you shall die like mortals, and fall like any prince.” This reminds me that even those who feel entitled to judge others, who speak down or act superior, will meet the same end as the rest of us. Judgment does not elevate anyone. Entitlement may make us feel superior in the moment, but in truth, it only blinds us to the reality that we are all equals.
I know this because I’ve lived it. I have been judged — for my skin, for my sexuality, for my clothes, my body, my beliefs. Every detail of my being has been subject to someone’s opinion. And yet, I chose not to become bitter. I chose not to let their judgment define me.
It wasn’t easy. At first, every comment hurt. Every look, every whisper chipped away at my confidence. But over time, I began to see the truth: people judge from pain. Hurt people hurt people. I learned to meet judgment not with anger, but with softness. With every act of cruelty, I tried to respond with compassion.
I reminded myself that we are all fighting battles no one sees, and sometimes judgment is just a cry for understanding. It takes strength to stay kind in a world that’s quick to criticize. But kindness is not weakness. It’s a quiet power that can change everything — especially when it’s offered to those who don’t seem to deserve it.
So next time you feel the urge to judge someone, pause. Look at them as a fellow human. Remember that they, too, are a child of God. Just like you. And in the end, we will all be held to the same measure — not by how perfectly we lived, but by how deeply we loved.
by Abby Clark
A Prayer for Justice, Compassion, and Shared Humanity
God of justice and mercy,
You see beyond our differences.
You created us in Your image-each one of us, unique,
Yet all sharing the same breath, the same divine spark.
You call us children of the Most High,
Yet remind us that no crown on earth can save us from the truth:
We are mortal, fragile, and equal in Your eyes.
Help us remember this, especially when we are tempted to judge.
Lord, I have felt the sting of judgment -
Not for what l've done, but for who I am.
For my skin, my body, my love, my truth.
I have been wounded by vipers, by stares, by silence.
But You, God, have never turned Your face from me.
You have walked with me in every moment,
And taught me to trade bitterness for grace.
Give me strength, O Lord,
To meet cruelty with compassion,
To see others not through the lens of fear or pride,
But as fellow souls on the journey.
When I feel the urge to condemn,
Remind me that judgment is Yours alone-
And that love is the measure You desire.
Let me live in that love.
Let me see with eyes of mercy.
Let me speak with the kindness that heals,
Even when it's hard,
Even when it's undeserved.
In a world quick to divide,
Make me a peacemaker.
In a world quick to criticize,
Make me gentle but strong.
And when I forget who I am or whose I am,
Call me back to the truth:
I am Your child.
They are Your children.
We are all Yours.
Amen.
