In Isaiah 51:12 I read, “The LORD says, ‘I am the one who strengthens you. Why should you fear mortals, who are no more enduring than grass?’” (GNT)
One way to overcome the fear of rejection is by keeping the right perspective. I can listen to the opinions of others, but never overvalue what they say.
In Isaiah 51:12, God says, “I am the one who strengthens you. Why should you fear mortals, who are no more enduring than grass?” (GNT). My life here on Earth is temporary, so why be afraid of other people’s opinions?
Other people are not God, and their opinions aren’t going to last. The secret to success is to outlast my critics, to realize that it’s the really long game, eternity, that matters. In Isaiah, God reminds me he’s the one who counts.
When people put me down, don’t assume their judgments are the same as God’s. Don’t automatically accept someone’s criticism; instead, judge it for what it’s worth.
Why does this matter? Because when people’s approval becomes all-important to me, I set myself up to live in fear of rejection.
The Bible says, “In view of all this, what can we say? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31 GNT). If I recognize how much God is for me, it gives me the ability to withstand tremendous rejection from others.
For some, all that matters is popularity, fame, or applause. They think: “What do others think of me? How do I look to everybody else? Image is everything!”
If I live this way, I am at the mercy of everyone else’s judgments. If someone thinks I’m a loser, I must be a loser! If someone thinks I’m a dork, I must be a dork! I should not want to live that way.
The good news is God never intended for me to live this way. It’s as if he’s saying, “Why are you listening to them? They’re just mortal men and women. I’m the one that counts. They are no more enduring than grass.”
The apostle Paul said his goal in life was to please God, not others: “Does this sound as if I am trying to win human approval? No indeed! What I want is God’s approval! Am I trying to be popular with people? If I were still trying to do so, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10 GNT).
Paul says I have a choice. I can choose to live for the applause of God or for the applause of others.
Who am I more interested in pleasing? The crowd or God? I can’t seek the approval of both at the same time. I have to decide who I want to impress. Just remember who is “no more enduring than grass” and who is “the one who strengthens you.”
God is for me, and he wants to see me succeed! I need to choose to live for him today.
In summary, God is the one who strengthens me. I should not fear others who won’t last. To overcome the fear of rejection is by keeping the right perspective. I can listen to the opinions of others, but never overvalue what they say. My life here on Earth is temporary, so why be afraid of the opinions of others? Other people are not God, and their opinions aren’t going to last. To outlast my critics, realize that it’s the really long game, eternity, that matters. In the book of Isaiah, God reminds me he’s the one who counts. When people put me down, don’t assume their judgments are the same as God’s. Don’t automatically accept someone’s criticism; instead, judge it for what it’s worth. If I allow others' approvals to be all-important to me, I set myself up to live in fear of rejection. If I recognize how much God is for me, it gives me the ability to withstand tremendous rejection from others. For some, all that matters is popularity, fame, or applause. Image is everything!” If I live this way, I am at the mercy of everyone else’s judgments. I should not want to live that way. The good news is God never intended for me to live this way. It’s as if God says, “Why are you listening to them? I’m the one that counts. The apostle Paul said his goal in life was to please God, not others, Paul says I have a choice. I can choose to live for the applause of God or for the applause of others. So who am I more interested in pleasing? I can’t seek the approval of both at the same time. I have to decide who I want to impress. God is for me, and he wants to see me succeed! I need to choose to live for him today.
Father, thank you for wanting me. I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. I want to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. Father, you are more interested in setting me free. I should not misplace my fear and love. I need to take your power and opinion seriously, above others. I ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in my new job. I pray these things through you Son Jesus’ name, Amen.
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