Only God can look at somebody's heart.

The saying “Only God can look at somebody’s heart” comes from the teachings of Joel Osteen, a modern preacher who seeks to awaken compassion, humility, and divine perspective in a world quick to judge. These few words are simple in sound but vast in meaning. They remind us that while men see with the eyes, God sees with the heart. Human vision stops at the surface — at faces, failures, appearances, and mistakes — but the gaze of the Divine pierces through the outer shell and beholds the hidden truth of the soul. Where people see a sinner, God may see a struggler; where men see weakness, He may see courage still rising beneath the ashes.

In ancient times, prophets and sages echoed this same truth. When Samuel sought a king for Israel, he looked upon strong men of noble bearing. Yet the Lord said, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” And thus the shepherd boy David, small and forgotten, was chosen. This divine pattern has never ceased: history is filled with those overlooked by men but lifted by Heaven. The world’s judgment is swift and shallow, but God’s insight is patient and eternal. He sees not what we pretend to be, nor what others assume we are, but what dwells deep within — the unseen fire of motive, faith, and love.

Joel Osteen’s words call us to humility in how we see others. For who among us can claim to fully know another’s pain, another’s story, another’s journey through shadows and grace? How many souls have been condemned by gossip or appearance, while their hearts silently carried burdens that would have broken others? The human heart is a vast landscape — scarred, complex, mysterious — and only God, the Creator of that landscape, can truly walk its valleys and know its light and dark. When we remember this, judgment melts into mercy, and criticism turns into compassion.

Consider the story of John Newton, the slave trader who became the author of “Amazing Grace.” For years, men called him a monster — and rightly so, for his deeds were cruel. Yet God saw beyond his blindness. In the depths of a storm at sea, Newton’s heart broke open to the divine. The world might have written him off as damned, but God saw repentance waiting to be born. Newton’s transformation became one of history’s greatest hymns of redemption, touching millions. Indeed, only God could see the heart of a man still capable of such grace.

This truth challenges us to rise above the smallness of human judgment. When we label, condemn, or scorn, we take upon ourselves a power that belongs only to Heaven. The eyes of man divide, but the eyes of God unite. He sees the beggar as a soul rich in endurance, the criminal as one still redeemable, the enemy as one who could yet become a brother. To live by this understanding is to live with divine patience — to pause before condemning, to look deeper, to trust that something sacred stirs even in the most broken vessel.

Moreover, these words speak not only of others but of ourselves. Many carry secret shame, believing that their past defines them, that the world’s verdict is final. But remember this: God alone sees your heart. He knows the goodness that others ignore, the effort that goes unseen, the faith that survives in silence. Even when the world misunderstands you, Heaven does not. This truth is a balm for every weary spirit — that the One who matters most knows you fully, and still loves you entirely.

Therefore, the lesson is clear: judge less, love more. See not with suspicion but with sympathy. Let every harsh word pause upon your tongue until compassion softens it. Remember that you are not the keeper of souls, only their companion on the road. If you would see as God sees, open not only your eyes but your heart. For when you learn to look with mercy, you begin to reflect the divine gaze that never condemns, but always seeks to heal.

Practical actions: When tempted to judge someone, pause and remind yourself — I cannot see their heart, but God can. Speak kindness instead of criticism. Offer understanding where others offer blame. And if you feel misunderstood yourself, hold peace in your soul, knowing that your worth is not defined by the opinions of men. Walk with compassion, humility, and faith — for in doing so, you begin to see the world as God does: not through the veil of appearances, but through the light of love.