Are you a people pleaser?
- Do worry about what others think of you?
- Are often overly sensitive?
- Do you compromise your values?
- Do you hesitate sharing your faith?
- We have a hard time saying “No.”
The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that. –Proverbs 29:25 (The Message)
Top 10 Reasons Why People Pleasing is a Really Bad Idea
- You are already who God created you to be. Approval from others shouldn’t be requested because it’s not necessary.
- People pleasing puts you in the precarious position of feeling powerless to say “no” and then being frustrated when you say “yes”.
- You downplay your passions and interests for the approval of others.
- There are better things to be addicted to than external validation.
- It is not going to be possible to please some people.
- If you live for people’s acceptance, you will die from their rejection. #Lecrae
- In trying to please all, he had pleased none. #AesopsFables
- Pleasing God re-creates you into God’s image. Pleasing others conforms you into people’s image.
- People pleasing is a sin. It means we elevate people and diminsh God.
- Being absorbed with what others think about you is quickest and most effective way to disregard what God believes about you.
How do we overcome the disease to please?
- Make peace that you are not going to be able to please everybody.
- Learn how to say “no” in a way that feels good to you.
- Stop basing your self-worth on how much you do for other people.
- Be absorbed with what God believes about you.
When you lose control of your calendar and your to-do list—you lose control of your life.
Basing your self-worth on an imperfect person’s perception of you will mess you up.
Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. – Galatians 1:10
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. -Psalm 139:13-14
Dear Lord,
Teach me not to be a victim or overthink myself to death through stifling reflection, but rather teach me to breathe more deeply in faith.
