Attention People-Pleasers!

Are you a People-Pleaser? I am. Well…sometimes.

I like to do all of the things…

for all of the people…

all of the time.

Those of us who are People-Pleasers (and maybe those of us who have People-Pleasers in our lives) can see the impact it has on a person. What you do is never enough. There is always something else to do and someone else to help. It can suck the very life out of you.

Many People-Pleasers wrap their entire self-worth in their ability to care and provide for others. Women in particular, as nature’s caregivers, tend to be notorious People-Pleasers. Sideline Soccer Mom and Snack Maker Extraordinaire,  Picture-Perfect Homemaker with dinner on the table right on time, Homework Helper able to help in all the subjects, Bible Study Group Leader and Mentor with it all put together…the list is endless!

In many ways, it may feel like we’re supposed to do this, right? “Do unto others…” But at what cost?

I chuckled when I read my Verse of the Day today before I got past the first word. The New Living Translation is the only one I checked that used the word obviously. But it made me laugh. It was like Paul was screaming, “DUH!”

Then I got to the rest of the verse…

OUCH!

Talk about a reality check!

Pleasing people should NEVER be the goal. If they are pleased as a result of our actions, that is fine. Our actions should not be with the intent to please another person, but only God.

To take this even a step further, we shouldn’t be taking any action solely to win God’s favor. Anything we do should be done because we want to glorify God, regardless of what others think. If we have other intentions behind our actions, we need to stop and recalibrate ourselves.

When we are acting on behalf of others, we become exhausted and drained. But when our actions are for God, we will find that He energizes and empowers us!

It’s time to give up your People-Pleasing ways and start God-Pleasing!