Communication is a delicate art. Misunderstandings happen innocently when one person delivers a message and it’s received partially or inaccurately. But you can’t truly know what someone means unless you give them an opportunity to clarify. Don’t fill in the blanks yourself or just guess what someone meant by what they said or did – no one knows the heart of man except God.

When you operate from partial information it can spread like a virus, all because no one took the time to find out the truth. Sometimes, inaccurate ideas and misunderstandings build up over time and people have difficulties separating them from the truth.

It happens with scripture as well. The Bible is often mocked not for what it actually says but for what people think it says.

Misunderstandings can damage relationships and reputations. Scripture is clear in Matthew 18:15, you should always go to the person you feel has offended or sinned against you and give them the opportunity to explain or be corrected.

The most important thing to remember when trying to avoid these misunderstandings is to take the time to find the truth and talk it out.