Paul defines love thusly. He says it "Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7). At least that's how the King James terms it.
The Amplified version of the Bible expands on his definition in a beautiful way. Instead of saying love "believeth all things", it says:
"Love is ever ready to believe the best of every person."
This is powerful. If we could appropriate one quality of love into our life, I would put this at the tippy-top of my list. God believes the best of each and every person on this earth. Current actions and habits notwithstanding, God looks at you and He looks at me and He sees us as we can and will be. This is the very essence of faith. And it's "faith which worketh by love" (Galatians 5:6). Try this on: every person you see today, make a conscious choice to look at them through the eyes of love. God's love. The kind of love that He's shown you. When you believe in people and believe they can become everything that God made them to be, God will actually begin working in their life on behalf of your silent intercession. When you (unbeknownst to them) add your faith to their life by loving them with the love of God, their life will change. Don't worry about the specifics, they'll come. The Holy Spirit will show you if you need to do something or give something. Until He does though, be present for them. Listen without judgment or reservation. "Rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep with them that do weep." (Romans 12:15). This honest emotional transparency can only be shown to others as we live our lives in transparency toward God.
This also speaks to longevity and hardship. It might take time for someone to heal or to come to the Lord. Are you "ever ready to believe the best" of them? When the opportunity to doubt comes in and maybe they relapsed into an old habit or thought pattern, will you still look at them with eyes of love and understanding? Or will you begin to harbor doubts and criticism about them? Sure, you might not say anything, but unless you forgive their sin—"considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Galatians 6:1)—then that attitude will seep out and more than likely, they'll pick up on it and be discouraged.
God is always believing the best of us. Let's refract this light of His love to those with whom we come in contact. And the way to know how to love others is to know how we ourselves are loved—by God.
We'll look at another one tomorrow. This is enough for one day (and one lifetime).