THIS IS A BIGGIE
Galatians 1:10 ESV
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
I believe this is one of the bigger areas that people struggle with: seeking the approval of people and trying to please people. This struggle is not limited to the young; this is something that plagues many people all their lives. It starts young, but if not acknowledged and addressed, this fear of people will stick around.
I wish I could tell you that this is an area that gives me no problem. Sadly, that is not the case. As someone who speaks to groups of people both in person, online, and on television, the temptation to seek the approval of people is constantly there. The fear of not doing well, of not being approved, can be very real, particularly in my calling, where people can say things online or vote with their feet and leave. But seeking approval of people and trying to please people is certainly not a vocational challenge that only strikes at pastors and speakers. This fear hits all ages, genders, and vocations. It is a product of the fear that is in this world's system, and we need the wisdom and strength of the Lord to help us move past this fear.
But I believe this is an area where we can make progress. First, we ask the Lord to show us by His word and His Holy Spirit where we are motivated by the fear of people. Then, we begin to address the fear with God's Word. For example, we begin to say out loud that God has not given us a Spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). So we know the Holy Spirit is not prompting us to be afraid. And we can speak over our lives that we are servants of the Lord, and we live to please Him. Ask the Lord what specific verses you can memorize and speak regarding your life. The speaking does not make the feelings of fear go away. But speaking God's Word is injecting life into the situation and is an important step in the process of reducing and eliminating the fear in our lives. Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue. Speaking God's Word is speaking life. The fears we deal with are a reality in our lives. We are not living in denial. But what we are doing by speaking life is resorting to a higher way of resisting those fears. We want to act on what we believe, not what we feel or the patterns of our past.
This is not a one, two, three, and I am free concept. This is a growth process where we begin to push back on the fear of people that has too much place in our lives. Are you afraid to say no when someone asks something of you? Are you concerned with what people think about everything you do and say? These fears are not coming from the Lord who loves you and wants you free to serve Him, not living to please everyone around you. The sad truth is that you will never please all the people around you, but according to Colossians 1:10, you can live in such a way that you bring honor to the Lord, and you are fully pleasing to Him. I would rather try to please God; He is the only true Judge who sees things clearly and accurately.
The bottom line is that we can live free from the fear of people. It's a great goal, and the more free we become, the better life becomes.
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to live with You in such a way that I am free from the fear of not pleasing people or losing their approval. Your approval means more to me.