When You Feel UnappreciatedSýnishorn

NOT A DOORMAT

I know what you’re thinking: “If I continue to be unappreciated, I’m just being a doormat. I’m letting people take advantage of me.”

Let me ask you this: was Jesus a doormat? We would all answer that question with a “no, never!” He is our example. But think about it – was He always appreciated? Again, no. But that didn’t stop Him from following God and fulfilling His purpose.

Jesus was never a people-pleaser. His motives were always right, and He lived the most successful life of any human being.

So what was the motivating factor of His life? It was doing the will of God (regardless of whether He was appreciated or not). His everyday goal was pleasing His Father. Here’s what He said:

I do what I see my Father doing (John 5:19)

I carry out the will of the One who sent me, not my own will (John 5:30)

I say whatever the Father tells me to say (John 12:50)

I always do what pleases Him (John 8:29)

You may say, “Yeah, but that was Jesus – you can’t expect me to live like that!” But when you were born again, His spirit came to live inside you. You are completely equipped to live as He lived! And you know what? That’s when life gets good.

When we live as Jesus lived on earth, we are free from being a doormat. We aren’t consumed by looking good, getting what we deserve, what others think, or how we feel. When we do what our Father would do, aim to carry out His will not ours, say what He tells us to say, and only do what pleases Him, He will show up for us!

When you live to please God, appreciation from people matters less and less. Yes, it’s nice to be appreciated, and I hope you are – I know you should be. But true success in life comes from pleasing God.