I used to enjoy writing restaurant reviews.
Yelp. TripAdvisor. Google.
It felt like a small way to contribute, guiding others toward a great meal or away from a disappointing one.
I’d post pictures of the food, rate the service, note the décor.
Five stars for that cozy bistro with the warm bread and friendly waiter.
One star for the loud diner with the soggy pancakes.
It was fun. Harmless.
Or so I thought.
Then one morning, I was sipping coffee and flipping through the local paper when I saw a headline:
“Popular Restaurant Fails Health Inspection.”
I nearly choked.
It was one of my favorites. One I had given a glowing five-star review.
“Best steak in town,” I had written. “Excellent service. Highly recommend.”
But behind the scenes?
- Mold in the ice machine
- Improper food storage
- Unsafe handling practices
Then, a few days later, I saw another report. A tiny diner I had once dismissed with a harsh one-star review had scored a 99 out of 100 in their health inspection.
Turns out the food may have been bland, but the kitchen was spotless.
The systems were tight. The staff was trained.
And that’s when it hit me.
My reviews were just snapshots. A single moment, from one seat, through my limited perspective.
They didn’t go behind the scenes.
They didn’t tell the whole story.
And suddenly, what I thought was helpful felt a little hollow.
That realization led me to a few humbling conclusions. About food, yes, but more about life.
1. Critics have opinions. Inspectors have authority.
Anyone can leave a review. And most of us do.
But an inspector carries weight.
They don’t just show up with an opinion. They show up with permission.
They are invited into places critics never see.
They speak not from preference, but from position.
2. Critics review outcomes. Inspectors examine process.
Critics react to what is served — the speed, the taste, the presentation.
But inspectors go deeper.
They ask, how did it get here?
They look at habits, systems, and standards.
One sees the surface. The other sees the journey.
3. Critics focus on presentation. Inspectors care about preparation.
I judged based on how the plate looked.
The inspector checked if the ingredients were stored properly, if the counters were clean, if the prep was safe.
Critics are drawn to appearances. Inspectors look for substance.
4. Critics can be wrong. Inspectors are thorough.
I gave praise to what was failing.
I gave criticism to what was doing it right.
Critics make assumptions. Inspectors ask questions.
Critics rush. Inspectors examine.
One reacts. The other investigates.
And as I sat with all of this, it stopped being about restaurants.
Because it is not just food we review.
We rate people too.
We pass judgment on how someone handles a conversation, how they raise their kids, how they carry themselves through hardship.
And we do it all without ever stepping into their kitchen.
We don’t know what people are walking through.
We don’t see the grief in their quietness, or the growth beneath their mess.
We see the plate and assume we know the process.
But we don’t.
And the more I thought about it, the more grateful I became for this truth.
There is only One true Inspector.
Only One who sees behind the curtain.
Only One who knows the full story.
Only One with the authority to speak and the grace to restore.
“For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”
— 1 Samuel 16:7
God does not just see the performance.
He sees the preparation.
He sees the weariness behind the smile.
He sees the faithfulness in obscurity.
He sees the hidden sacrifices and the quiet obedience.
And unlike a critic, He does not show up to shame.
He comes to clean, to correct, to heal, to help.
So these days, I am trying to review less and extend grace more.
To leave the inspecting to the One who sees it all.
And to rest in the comfort that when God steps into my kitchen,
He does so with truth in His hands
and mercy in His eyes.
You do not have to prove yourself to the critics.
Just keep your kitchen clean.
God sees. God knows. God understands.
And best of all?
He still chooses grace.
A Good Word 