Who Are You Trying to Please?
09/22/2026
I wish I could tell you that I’ve reached a place in my life where I don’t care what people think about me. I haven’t. Criticism can still sting. Being misunderstood still bothers me. And there are times when I know what I believe God wants me to do, but I also know somebody isn’t going to like it. That’s where this gets difficult. Because sometimes the hardest part of obeying God isn’t figuring out what He wants—it’s being willing to disappoint someone when you do it.
“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.”
Galatians 1:10 — ESV
Paul asks a question here that is uncomfortable if we really sit with it: Who am I trying to please?
The context makes it even stronger. Paul is confronting people who were distorting the gospel. They were adding requirements to the grace of Christ, and Paul wasn’t willing to soften the truth just to keep everybody happy.
That takes courage.
Because pleasing people can become a quiet kind of bondage. You start measuring your words before you say them. You make decisions based on how someone might react. You say yes when you should say no. You stay silent when you should speak. You second-guess something God has clearly shown you because somebody else doesn’t understand it.
And before long, without even realizing it, you’ve handed someone else the steering wheel.
People-pleasing can even look like kindness. We tell ourselves, I just don’t want to disappoint them. Or, I don’t want them upset with me. Sometimes that is genuine compassion. But sometimes it’s fear wearing nicer clothes.
Paul draws a pretty clear line: you cannot make human approval your highest goal and faithfully follow Jesus at the same time.
That doesn’t mean we become rude, stubborn, or unconcerned about others. Following Christ should actually make us more loving, gracious, and considerate. But there is a difference between loving people and living for their approval.
Jesus loved people perfectly, and people still misunderstood Him.
He disappointed expectations.
He said things people didn’t want to hear.
He refused to become the kind of Messiah people wanted Him to be.
And ultimately, the crowds that praised Him didn’t determine His obedience to the Father.
That challenges me because approval feels good. Criticism doesn’t. Being understood feels good. Having someone question your motives doesn’t. And when obedience costs us somebody’s approval, we can start wondering whether obedience was worth it.
But here’s the question underneath Paul’s question:
Whose voice gets the final say in my life?
There will be times when obeying God disappoints someone.
There will be times when following biblical conviction makes you unpopular.
There will be times when you have to say no and someone won’t understand.
There may even be times when doing exactly what God has called you to do causes someone you care about to criticize you.
You can listen to wise counsel. You should remain teachable. You should examine your heart when someone challenges you. But after all of that, you still have to decide whose approval matters most.
Because you were never meant to carry the impossible burden of keeping everybody happy.
Your calling is simpler than that.
Love people well. Listen humbly. Obey God faithfully.
And when those things come into conflict, remember who you belong to.
Action Steps
* Check your motivation. Before an important decision today, ask yourself, “Am I doing this because it is right before God, or because I’m afraid of someone’s reaction?”
* Identify the voice that has too much influence. Is there someone whose approval—or disapproval—has more control over you than it should?
* Choose obedience over applause. Do one thing today that you know honors God, even if nobody notices, celebrates, or understands it.
Challenge for the Day
Before you say yes, say no, speak up, or stay silent today, ask one question: “Am I trying to please God, or am I trying to protect someone’s opinion of me?” Then have the courage to obey God.
Prayer
Father, I want to live for Your approval more than the approval of people. Show me where fear of rejection or criticism has been influencing my decisions. Give me humility to listen to wise counsel and courage to obey You when obedience costs me something. Help me love people without becoming controlled by their opinions. I want to be faithful to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
I wish I could tell you that I’ve reached a place in my life where I don’t care what people think about me. I haven’t. Criticism can still sting. Being misunderstood still bothers me. And there are times when I know what I believe God wants me to do, but I also know somebody isn’t going to like it. That’s where this gets difficult. Because sometimes the hardest part of obeying God isn’t figuring out what He wants—it’s being willing to disappoint someone when you do it.
“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.”
Galatians 1:10 — ESV
Paul asks a question here that is uncomfortable if we really sit with it: Who am I trying to please?
The context makes it even stronger. Paul is confronting people who were distorting the gospel. They were adding requirements to the grace of Christ, and Paul wasn’t willing to soften the truth just to keep everybody happy.
That takes courage.
Because pleasing people can become a quiet kind of bondage. You start measuring your words before you say them. You make decisions based on how someone might react. You say yes when you should say no. You stay silent when you should speak. You second-guess something God has clearly shown you because somebody else doesn’t understand it.
And before long, without even realizing it, you’ve handed someone else the steering wheel.
People-pleasing can even look like kindness. We tell ourselves, I just don’t want to disappoint them. Or, I don’t want them upset with me. Sometimes that is genuine compassion. But sometimes it’s fear wearing nicer clothes.
Paul draws a pretty clear line: you cannot make human approval your highest goal and faithfully follow Jesus at the same time.
That doesn’t mean we become rude, stubborn, or unconcerned about others. Following Christ should actually make us more loving, gracious, and considerate. But there is a difference between loving people and living for their approval.
Jesus loved people perfectly, and people still misunderstood Him.
He disappointed expectations.
He said things people didn’t want to hear.
He refused to become the kind of Messiah people wanted Him to be.
And ultimately, the crowds that praised Him didn’t determine His obedience to the Father.
That challenges me because approval feels good. Criticism doesn’t. Being understood feels good. Having someone question your motives doesn’t. And when obedience costs us somebody’s approval, we can start wondering whether obedience was worth it.
But here’s the question underneath Paul’s question:
Whose voice gets the final say in my life?
There will be times when obeying God disappoints someone.
There will be times when following biblical conviction makes you unpopular.
There will be times when you have to say no and someone won’t understand.
There may even be times when doing exactly what God has called you to do causes someone you care about to criticize you.
You can listen to wise counsel. You should remain teachable. You should examine your heart when someone challenges you. But after all of that, you still have to decide whose approval matters most.
Because you were never meant to carry the impossible burden of keeping everybody happy.
Your calling is simpler than that.
Love people well. Listen humbly. Obey God faithfully.
And when those things come into conflict, remember who you belong to.
Action Steps
* Check your motivation. Before an important decision today, ask yourself, “Am I doing this because it is right before God, or because I’m afraid of someone’s reaction?”
* Identify the voice that has too much influence. Is there someone whose approval—or disapproval—has more control over you than it should?
* Choose obedience over applause. Do one thing today that you know honors God, even if nobody notices, celebrates, or understands it.
Challenge for the Day
Before you say yes, say no, speak up, or stay silent today, ask one question: “Am I trying to please God, or am I trying to protect someone’s opinion of me?” Then have the courage to obey God.
Prayer
Father, I want to live for Your approval more than the approval of people. Show me where fear of rejection or criticism has been influencing my decisions. Give me humility to listen to wise counsel and courage to obey You when obedience costs me something. Help me love people without becoming controlled by their opinions. I want to be faithful to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
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