Are you more concerned with people-pleasing than you are with pleasing God? Do you have an internal desire to keep the people in your life happy with what you do? Do you spend time thinking about what people think of you?
If you answered yes to any of these questions then you, like me, are on the journey from people-pleasing to God-pleasing.
We all have a need to belong. When people scream I don’t need anyone they’re lying. We all need people in our life to love us and accept us for who we are. With that, though, we have to learn to keep people in their proper place.
Consider Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22). The Lord tested Abraham’s commitment to Him, and Abraham passed the test. As a result of His unwavering commitment to God, he was blessed.
He was set on pleasing God above everything. Are you and I?
This scripture, written by the apostle Paul, has given me much encouragement lately:
“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
– Galatians 1:10
Trying to please people limits what we can do for Christ.
Some people love Christ, even follow Him, but are severely limited by what they do can do for Him because of their inability to let go of people-pleasing. Let’s get free from pleasing people and set our sights on pleasing Christ.
Yes, it’s a journey, but it’s one that will change the entire course of our lives for the better. I used to be a complete people-pleaser. Saying only what I knew people would agree with, afraid to say what they wouldn’t want to hear. By His grace that’s not me anymore.
Now I know that the people I need in my life are pleased with me simply because of who I am, not because I’m doing what they want me to do. Me being me is enough. I need people around me that encourage me to do all that Christ has called me to do. Not solely do what they want me to do.
How To Break Free from People-Pleasing:
Watch out for controlling people. Controlling people love people pleasers. Why? They know they’ll do anything asked of them without a second thought. Don’t do that. Whether you do it or not, involve Christ in your decision. Act on His leading.
Remember that there are many good things that we can be doing, but we want to focus our efforts on doing what God has called us to do.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
– Ephesians 2:10
In order to do all that God has ordained us to do, we must seek Him. We must be set on pleasing Him and following Him. If not, we’ll be distracted by everything that’s thrown our way. Don’t get distracted, and don’t aim to please people.
Keep your eyes set on Christ and allow Him to lead you to all that He has for you.
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”
– I Corinthians 9:24
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