Overcome People-Pleasing

“When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.” -Acts 28:4-6

Paul was bit by a snake and the opinion of the people was that he deserved it. They assumed he was guilty of some horrible sin and this was the judgement. Then, when the expected consequences of the snake bite didn’t materialize, they assumed he had a divine and invincible nature! Their opinion of him changed (v.6) within a very short time. Not only did it change, but the change from bad to good could not have been more drastic!

The opinion of people changes rapidly and is not a safe foundation to build your life on! Like a water faucet, their words and opinions can quickly change from hot to cold.

Many people have experienced the emotional roller coaster ride of being a people-pleaser. It's understandable how we get there! We all want to be accepted, invited, included, and valued. Ultimately, we all want to feel loved.

When we live to please people we experience short bursts of love and acceptance as we perform in a way that brings approval. However, the double edged sword of people-pleasing also cuts deeply when we don’t perform well and face rejection or disapproval. A life lived for people-pleasing in the end is a disappointing life because you can never please everyone enough.

Our thirst for love and acceptance also runs deeper than experiencing rapidly fading bursts of favor with people! We crave a deeper love not attached to how we perform, but connected to the unique value intrinsically within us.

It’s not an easy pattern to break, but it can be done! How?

We look right past the opinions of people, and look to what God says about us! God loved you so much that He allowed his one and only Son, Jesus, to die a painful death on the cross so you could be saved through faith in Him! You never have to question your value when you look to the cross! God has proven that His love for you goes far beyond the measuring stick of performance.

Awake every day to the joy of pleasing the One who already loves you with an unconditional love! God's love for you remains even when you perform poorly and make mistakes! Start walking in the freedom of living to please God and not people!

Right on?

Read/listen to Acts chapter 28 & Romans chapters 1-2

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