People pleasing is a never ending task with a never in sight resolution. But pleasing God, being focused solely in His direction adds joy, confidence and daily assurance to daily life. I however for the majority of my life have been a , excuse me while I blush, people pleaser . I have grown by leaps and bounds over the years. I hope I am still leaping and bounding with every year that is ahead of me. I am one to over analyze and over personalize a fickle comment, a quick evil eye in my direction, or a sharp tongue. But by Gods grace I am moving on. I find when I fall under the weight of a harsh comment I come back up much quicker then I used to. I am able to brush off my britches , kind of fling my hair in the breeze and mozy on down the walk way so to speak.
HOWEVER, I still struggle. I struggled just today with one of those glares I told you about. As far as I could see I was the only person in that hall to glare at and the gaze was fixed on me. I instantly racked my brain ( oh my poor poor tired brain.) "Had I done anything, had I said anything ?" By the time I got home that glare was still in my mind staring at the back of my skull..jpg)
ENOUGH, I told myself. I plopped myself at the kitchen table and opened my Bible. I needed Gods Word. This had been a rough month. Words had been spoken to us harshly and to my son. One of us in our home had even heard the words, " I hate you !" this week. I was tired, tired of this, tired of always worrying about people.I prayed, Lord help with my people pleasing. I opened up to 1 John 4 and began reading at verse 7 -11. Instantly my heart was taken to a place it needed to be. Taken to Gods love not mine. Taken to His example, taken to His answer to my people pleasing ways.Life isn't fair, but Gods love doesn't stand on fairness it exceeds it. Totally unlike our love.
THIS is Love not that we loved God, but that He loved us. Wow, what a thought for me to ponder. What kind of love is that ? A love that loves when not loved. This is not a love I have. This is Gods kind of amazing love. To love when not loved in return. To give with no gift. To love when hated, disliked, unwelcomed. I pondered over Gods love for awhile. What love, I am not like that. Gods love is like no other.
I READ on and found the most interesting exhortation to my question, " Lord help me with my people pleasing." It was in the next verse and it hit me right between my people pleasing eyes and gave my brain some relief. Dear Friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. What did He mean? You mean love others like you did God. You mean love when I get the glare, the words, the comments, the nasty. You mean love then? Love them? Love like you? What a great exhortation Lord, so unlike me, PERFECT!, because me isn't working.
I asked you to help me today Lord and you have given me a challenge, an alternative to people pleasing, LOVE LIKE YOU. I will never love like you Lord, but I can be reminded of how you love. If that kind of love came naturally you would not need to tell us to do it. People pleasing is an unattainable goal. Some people just wont like me, accept me, care for me, invite me, say hello to me, OH WELL. I am only asked to Love as you love. To love in spite of reaction and acceptance To love because you loved me first. There is so much to learn , but people pleasing is not on the list anymore. Actually I believe I will replace my number one weakness with your number one gift ,Love. Until I get better at it , Lord please help me with my people pleasing ways.
good job
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