Short post today, because I’m swamped with homework and studying for exams. 🙂
It’s so easy to care about other’s opinions of us. The things we say, wear, eat and do are often filtered through what it will make others think. We need people to think well of us, to like us, to love us.
Of course, it feels nice when people like us. When that person laughs at our joke, or compliments our outfit, we’re overjoyed.
But, we’re often plunged into the depths of despair when there’s a chance that people don’t like us, or think badly of us. Our lives become a roller coaster, narrated by other’s ever-changing opinions.
It gets tiring, doesn’t it? It’s not easy to constantly gain approval.
Here’s the thing: your life isn’t about others, or what they think about you. It isn’t about you, or what you think of yourself. You live for God alone.
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
1 Corinthians 4:3
The only way you will stop caring what others think about you is to realize you have been loved by someone greater. God’s love for you is far more important and satisfying than love or acceptance from anyone on this earth. It’s the only love that will fill the longing in your heart.
It doesn’t feel like that, though, does it? Most of the time, I would much rather people think well of me than God. That’s why we need to meditate on his love for us, remind our hearts that despite how it feels, God’s love is greater than any other.
Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.
Isaiah 43:4
When you truly realize the weight of how much God cares about you, you won’t need the acceptance and love of others.
So, who cares what others think about you? The only person’s opinion that matters is God’s, and he calls you his child.
Unhindered Imagination 
My family was talking about a similar subject last night for devotions. I discovered that ‘serve an audience of one (God)’ can be applicable to a lot of other things, too (ie bullying, loving others, low self-esteem, high self-esteem, etc.). It’s something that all of us probably struggle with, but don’t usually mention much.d
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Yeah, it’s kinda crazy. It’s cool that this lined up with your family devotions! It’s so cool when that happens.
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Thank you for this true reminder. This struggle against the fleshly desire for acceptance outside of Christ is something I have come up against at every stage of my life so far and the only truth the in Christ I already have the acceptance I crave…that incredible truth is my hiding place. ‘What patience would wait as we constantly roam!’ Keep up the excellent and true writing McKinley, and thank you again.
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