Psalm 18: 30-32: As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect. (NKJV)
Many of us struggle in social settings because we are overly-concerned with what others think. In fact, a simple flashback to an awkward situation may cause our stomach to turn with worry. This tendency is incredibly crippling because it can keep us from evangelizing to those who need to hear the gospel or simply being there for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
To combat this behavior, we must first remember that God is God alone. Only His words and thoughts towards us are true and full of power. Only He is capable of being our strong foundation, protecting us in His strength, and making our ways perfect. Therefore, we have no business exalting people’s opinions above God Himself.
Whenever you find yourself being overly concerned with what other people think, ask yourself?
- Is my goal to please God or to please men? : Galatians 1:10 – 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.(NLT)
- Why am I so concerned with what others may or may not think of me? : It is so important to really allow God to search your heart for the true answer to this question. Oftentimes, it may reveal insecurities, bitterness, or some other heart issues that the Lord longs to heal you from. It may be incredibly uncomfortable to address – maybe even painful – but it will be worth it.
PRAYER: Lord, I repent from exalting the opinions of others above You. Forgive me of this behavior and help me to not continue in this way. Search my heart and reveal whatever issues may be causing me to do this. In Jesus’ name, Amen.