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High Expectations---I can't Please Everyone
I Can't Please Everyone
"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
In our current culture, people expect us to respond to their requests with increasing speed and I efficiency. Whether it's a
call, text, email, instant message, or Facebook comment, there's an
understanding...no, an expectation...that we will respond.
I'll admit I
fall into this as well. It appeals to my need to be needed. Someone wants my
opinion or my help. At the very least, they want to connect with me. If they are
willing to share their lives with me, my desire is to respond. Promptly. With
creativity. And a bit of humor, if you please. But honestly, it's
exhausting.
Dealing with the expectations of others is especially hard
for us as Christians. It's impossible to meet everyone's needs. There are no
firm lines between our private and public lives, and it's turning some of us
into people-pleasing maniacs. Sadly, this is self-sabotaging
behavior.
Jesus identified a similar people-pleasing tendency in His
disciples. They were torn between obligations to others and obedience to Him.
They wanted to follow Jesus, but on their terms.
Jesus challenged this
line of thinking, and called them to a new level of obedience, one that forced
them to choose what was most important.
When the demands of others
threatened our immediate obedience, Jesus challenges us with the same unspoken
question He asked His disciples: "Who are you going to please first?"
Without settling our hearts on the answer to this question, we end up
with an over-whelmed and over-committed life. Our lives operate like a bumper
car, crazily racing in one direction, only to crash into an obstacle and wildly
turn another direction.
My life has felt that way at times. But my heart
gained clarity and direction when I declared Jesus Christ to be my leader.
Now, please know that even though I believed those words in my heart and
spoke them with my mouth, it took years to bring every area of my life into
alignment. It is still a process, and at times I have to check my reality
against my intent.
Declaring Jesus as our leader breaks our bondage to
the approval of others, and helps clarify our motives. Plus, it reduces stress
as we accept the fact that we can't please everyone, and God never expects us to
try.
Pray that the Lord who alone is worthy of following forgives you for having given into pleasing others, following others or comparing yourself to others. Ask for his help to help you overcome bondage to the approval of others but to mold you into an extra ordinary servant with an undivided heart.. That's my prayer.. In
Jesus' Name, Amen.
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