I have actually been a people pleaser for most of my life, in fact, I'm still in the recovery process. Somehow, the word "no" has always presented itself as a challenge for me. Saying no always seemed so harsh. I always thought that if I said "no" to someone's plans or ideas, they wouldn't like me. Or maybe they'd take my "no" the wrong way and think that I didn't like them very much.
Looking back at some situations, they were just silly. Like spending the night at a friend's house when I was really exhausted and just wanted to go home. Or going to the movies and paying $10 for a movie I didn't particularly want to see with people I didn't particularly want to spend my Friday night with.
But some situations had the potential to be life altering. Take for example trying to please my parents. "Do broadcast journalism, Chloe! You'd be so great, plus you'd make lots of money!" said EVERYONE in my immediate family and beyond.
And then one day, I turned into a maybe girl.
I started avoiding YES and NO altogether. I just wanted to make everyone happy, so I never gave straight up answers. It was always just maybe. Maybe I like you. Maybe I'll major in whatever you want me to. Maybe I'll go to school wherever you want me to go. Maybe..maybe...
I just wanted people to accept me and like the answers that I gave. I just wanted to please everyone. I was afraid of people getting mad at me for not wanting to do what they wanted me to do. Afraid of stepping on toes or having an opinion that someone else didn't approve of. Afraid of being disliked. I tried to change myself to become whatever the world told me I should become.
This is obviously more than just an issue with the word no. It's an issue with approval.
When I am trying to find myself through the approval of others, will I ever be happy? When I base my decisions off what other people think is right, wrong, or "cool", will I ever be satisfied? NO.
I was going through some old boxes in my room over the break and I found this scripture--in my handwriting I might add--written on a piece of notebook paper.
Galatians 1:10
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
I love this verse! When we--the people pleasers of this world--turn into God pleasers, we are finally free. The only opinion that truly matters is God's opinion. Are we pleasing Him? Are the choices we make everyday glorifying Him? If the answer is YES, we have everything we need. We can find complete satisfaction in knowing that we are pleasing the one true King, Jesus.
People pleasers, I have news for you... You don't have to please anyone but Jesus. Don't fall under the pressures of this world, whether they be from parents, friends, or whoever. We have the power to make our own plans, and be our own person. If you're living for Him, that's all that matters.
Sincerely,
Approved
