This year, you’re likely to meet people who want to share their stories—but who may have no interest in hearing the gospel. Some of those stories will celebrate sin. Some will reflect deep spiritual confusion or even hostility toward truth. And some may genuinely offend you.

So what do we do when that happens? How do we respond when someone opens their heart, and what comes out is messy, painful, or far from God’s design?

Jesus gave us a clear answer in Matthew 5:43–45:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

Jesus calls us to love without conditions—to extend kindness even when we don’t agree, even when we’re uncomfortable. That’s the kind of love that reflects the character of our Heavenly Father. We can also follow the example of Jesus. 

Jesus never backed down from truth—but He also never led with condemnation. He listened with love and responded with grace. When Jesus met the woman at the well (John 4), she was a Samaritan, an outcast, and living in sin. But instead of confronting her with judgment He affirmed her honesty. He listened. And only after building a connection did He offer her the living water of eternal life. Jesus saw the person before the problem.

When Jesus encountered Zacchaeus the tax collector (Luke 19:1–10), a man known for greed and corruption, He didn’t rebuke him in public. Instead, He simply said, “Come down—I’m going to your house today.” That act of kindness opened Zacchaeus’s heart, and repentance followed. Kindness led to transformation—without a single debate.

Jesus didn’t ignore sin. He simply chose to lead with love, letting grace open the door. That’s the posture we should take as we engage in real conversations with real people—especially those whose stories challenge us.

So when someone’s story challenges or offends you, here are five things to remember:

Thank God for the opportunity.
This moment may be hard, but it’s also holy. It’s a rare opportunity to show love that looks like your Father’s—gracious, undeserved, and powerful.

Release the pressure to convince.
Scripture calls us to be ready with an answer for the hope within us (1 Peter 3:15)—but it doesn’t say we need to win arguments. Listen with compassion. Speak with gentleness. Trust the Spirit to do the convincing.

Pray.
Very few people will reject a sincere offer for prayer. A simple, humble prayer can open hearts more than a polished argument ever could. Ask what they’d like prayer for—and then pray, right there if possible.

Share Scripture—graciously.
If the Spirit leads, gently ask if you can share a verse that’s meaningful to you. Have a few passages ready—especially ones that focus on grace, hope, and the love of God. Let the Word do the heavy lifting.

Look for signs of God’s grace already in their story.
As Jesus said, the Father sends sun and rain on all people (Matthew 5:45). Even in a broken story, look for glimpses of beauty, resilience, or longing—and gently point out how you see God at work, whether they recognize it or not.