Fear Not, Brave One

I will fear God, and not seek the approval of any man or woman.

Verses

Psalm 34:9

Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.

Matthew 10:28

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Philippians 2:12

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,

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.

Father God, thank you that we do not have to live in fear. Thank you that we can trust you to protect us. Thank you for reminding us through your Word to fear you alone, as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

Thank you that we do not need to worry about seeking the approval from those we do life with, live with, work with, serve. We do not need to live in fear of rejection because you have already accepted us as your beloved children. Lord, forgive us when our focus shifts to “what will they think” instead of “what will God think.”

Give us the desire in our inmost being to seek your approval alone.

Give us a sense of awe about who you are, so that the only fear that lives in us is truly a reverence for you. 

In the Strong Name of Jesus, Amen.

Responding to fear and rejection requires honest communication with God. Plain and simple.

Do you struggle with wanting to be liked? Oh, I know that sounds so petty, like ten-year-old girls on the playground at school. But I don’t think we ever outgrow the desire to be embraced by our peers and those we do life with. We simply discover that “being liked” doesn’t change our value.

Being popular doesn’t make us more important, even if our inner little girl begs to differ.

Maybe you don’t care so much about being included by the in-crowd or being noticed by those who you think matter most. Maybe your struggle is more like mine, where your longing for approval is really about a fear of rejection. While I am totally fine with being “unnoticed,” I worry about being criticized and misunderstood. Can you relate? I’ve learned to live without positive feedback. I can survive being overlooked in a large crowd. But verbal criticism causes me to just crumble. Does it do that to you too?

When it comes to relationships, where love binds us together, I can handle it a little better. I’ll cry. Maybe pitch a defensive fit. Then “come to” and walk in humility to solve the problem. But what about those “not in real life” rejections? The kind we find it today’s social media world of un-likers, un-followers, and un-subscribers.

Does this kind of passive rejection stab your heart, revealing your longing to be approved? 

I’ve actually gotten used to the whole drama of likes and unlikes, but it’s the hurtful email filled with accusations from a stranger (yes, that happens often), which manages to rock my world. Kind of stupid, don’t you think? Why should I allow a stranger that kind of power over my sense of worth? Because I get caught in the approval trap, fearing man more than God. And that, my friend, is a problem. Is it one you struggle with too? Well, then maybe this strategy might work for you.

When I find myself feel disapproved by man, I turn to the Lord with these two questions:

  1. Does their criticism have any merit that I ought to heed, or were their words from the overflow of their own wounds?
  2. If I am living to seek your approval only, God, what is the response and next steps you’d have me take?

Responding to fear and rejection requires honest communication with God. Plain and simple.

He’ll show us the truth if we’re willing to ask for it. He’ll show us when the situation at hand is an opportunity for Him to do a deeper work in transforming us to become more like Christ. And He’ll show us when we simply need to move forward in faith, dismissing the accusation, as we seek Him for the courage to move through the fear of further rejection. Living for the approval of God alone really does begin with turning our ear and eyes towards Him.

How do you face your fears and times of rejection? Is there a different approach God wants you to take?


 

Brave Together: A Conversation Starter for Cultivating Biblical Mentoring Relationships

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