Learning to Let Others Dislike Me

I’m wanting to learn to let other people not like me. That’s a hard one for me. Like, really, really hard. Even knowing I want to change–I receive one critical/negative/rude comment & I am ready to crawl back in my hole. *sigh* This is not going to be a quick process, I’m sure.

Now, I don’t mean that I say what I want or do what I want & “who cares?” type attitude.

I have been talking a lot about people-pleasing & judging the small things in others’ lives being a not-so-great idea… how those things have caused me to shrink back & dim, feeling overwhelmed by the feeling of never measuring up to others’ expectations/opinions.

But now, how do I rebuild? I talked about fixing my eyes on Jesus being my starting point, but where do I go from there?

I think the next step is learning to let other people not like me.

God Ought to be the Judge I Look To

If someone disagrees with me speaking up truth or anything really, I need to take it to God for review, & if He gives me peace to continue forward, I need to be okay with them not being okay with that. I ought to let God be the judge I look to. He’s the true One I must answer to.

I know we are called to live peaceably with everyone, as much as it is up to us, (Romans 12:18) but that does not mean compromising my following of God’s lead in order to please others.

I care too much about how people view me, & this ESPECIALLY includes Christians. (I know I have done it to others, TOO!)

Because we can’t read minds & we can’t know all the wisdom & workings of God, it can be easy to make a judgment call when we see someone else doing or saying something that seems out of place to us. (I have even caught myself giving a subtle eye roll to others who may or may not have just been trying to be obedient to a nudge from God in a situation, but shame on me!)

I Must be Bold Like the Disciples… Like JESUS… Were Willing to Be

Just like how I mentioned the disciples, the author’s (through God’s leading) of the Bible, & Jesus even… they were not timid people. They stood firm for truth, even if it led to the risk of their very lives. They spoke boldly the truth of God, in love. (Ephesians 4:15)

Here are some verses you can check out about being bold in & for Jesus Christ:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

“… proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” (Acts 28:31)

“This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him.” (Ephesians 3:11-12)

“The wicked flee when no one pursues,
    but the righteous are bold as a lion.” (Proverbs 28:1)

We Need to Pray Boldness for Each Other

But it is true, you find those speaking out for Jesus Christ asking the churches to pray that they have the boldness to do so… (Ephesians 6:19-20) & I can see why… It’s easy to want to slink backwards when other people oppose you… especially when they’re other people in the church you look up to & want affirmation & support from. It’s so easy to want that.

So, please, be sure when you think of it to pray the same for me… that I allow God to use the gifting He has given me the way He chooses to use it, versus trying to filter Him.

I shouldn’t be making those calls. He is God. I am not.

Don’t Filter God’s Leading through Your Own Human Understanding/Logic

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Of course I have grown in timidity, because I have been trying to call the shots on which I should follow of God’s leadings because I don’t think it would “go over well with others,” or because, “they won’t understand,” or, “they’ll think of me as a nuisance.”

I’m not leaning into Him, submitting to Him… I am trying to decide for Him. I am trying to be His filter.

Shame on me.

Living to please other people trumping my living to please God.

Shame on me.

In the end, I don’t have to answer to ANYONE other than Him.

Look to the Right Examples

Do I think everyone agreed with & supported Paul? All of the disciples? Jesus? Perfectly sinless, come to save the world, JESUS?

Did they stop being bold for truth because other people even got to the point of HATING & killing them for it? No.

I heard once that if we were to be present back then, with the way we run many churches now, we would be saying, “now now, Paul… there has to be a more sensitive, more politically correct, more palatable way to say this, so let’s calm down now.”

Imagine saying that to JESUS.

Like a Lamb to the Slaughter… Bold in His Love for Us… Even When Those He Came to Save Killed Him

But yet, Jesus went “like a lamb to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53:3-12) to provide a way to save all mankind from their own deserving hell-punishment, WHILE they spat at Him, stripped Him, beat Him, whipped Him, lied about Him, mocked Him, humiliated Him, & eventually KILLED Him.

He never once backed down from what God called Him to, but lived obedience to death, even death on the cross… for us, His mockers.

I don’t even have anyone threatening me other than threatening with their looks that they don’t agree with me or approve of me or like me & I am over here like, “Sorry! I’ll be quiet! Please like me!”

Pathetic. Sad. Disappointing. This should not be so.

I am Saved by the Grace of Jesus Christ!

I’m telling you. God sees everything. He knows everything. And if He were to confront me with it all, I would collapse immovable under the unbearable pressure of it all.

And yet… Jesus… His grace… His faithfulness despite my undeserving.

I don’t want to live compromising anymore. I want to be bold for Him & in Him. I want to live the harmonious balance intended by God—confidence & humility as hand-in-hand. Confidence that it’s all through Him, not anything I have to offer… & humility for that same exact reason.

I don’t want to walk around wearing a badge of shame that I am never measuring up to everyone’s opinions & expectations… I want to walk around boldly with a badge of honor that I am saved by God’s grace, through Jesus Christ our LORD.

HIS righteousness accounted to me because of HIS sacrifice for me.

Shine HOPE by determining to walk boldly for Him, even when others oppose you or disapprove, letting HIM be your strength where you lack, giving you confidence to live a life BOLDLY for Him.

Coming Next Week

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Sicilian Grove Tea Towel (INDIA)

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