Do you look to others for approval? I know I certainly have been guilty of that. I’ve wanted the approval of other people so bad, I’ve given in to peer pressure, made bad decisions, and many other things hoping to have other people like me.
What I discovered was this, when I lived to please other people, I wasn’t really making better friends. I couldn’t keep everyone happy at the same time, and when I tried, I was exhausted and stressed out. I realized that God describes a better way in today’s Bible verse.
For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. – 1 Thess 2:4 (NLT)
If we make pleasing God, rather than people our purpose, we will be less stressed out. God is who we should be living to please. When we make living for God and knowing Him our goal, it will bring much more happiness than we could ever find living our lives to please others.
So today, choose to get to know God. Make pleasing Him your goal in everything you do. As you choose this, you’ll be less stressed out and more fulfilled than living to please others.