Is It Just Me?: Learning to Trust God in the Middle of Hurts, Doubts, and FearsSample

When We Can’t Get It Right

There’s always a critic. Although I wish I could promise you that everyone will only love you and no one will ever talk bad about you, we both know that is not true. There’s always someone who has an opinion that basically says you aren’t that great.

Sometimes we make the mistake of worrying about our feelings instead of using wisdom. When we allow our feelings to control the situation, we often allow sin to control. Allow wisdom, not feelings, to control your situations.

Perhaps the reason we are exhausted and coming up short is because we have our priorities wrong. We have prioritized pleasing over pursuing. We focus on pleasing those who spout their opinions instead of pursuing Jesus.

There’s a story in the Bible that I love, because it demonstrates how Mary boldly pursued Jesus:

A dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” (John 12:2–8)

There Mary was, worshipping Jesus at His feet and using her expensive perfume to honor Him. She was saying, “Lord, I love You, I pursue You, and I honor You.” I like to think her time was so well spent with Jesus that she didn’t exhaust herself trying to convince Judas that her actions were right. Instead, she just responded by worshipping Jesus.

The opinion of anyone who is not Jesus should not exhaust you. If people think you are weird for living out your faith, let them. Their opinion is not worth proving wrong.

You and I are never missing out on our purpose if we are at Jesus’ feet. In fact, if we don’t worship Jesus first, we can’t live for Him. How could we live for someone we don’t even know? We can’t. We need to embrace His presence before we bring His Spirit to others.

Chances are you, too, are dreaming about doing big things. You want to help others, serve, and make an impact. You are ready to stop exhausting yourself by trying to respond to nitpickers. That is great. I pray you tell others about Him. I pray you are able to serve your community and Creator.

But most of all, I pray that you prioritize Jesus.

If you want to change the world, worship the One who saved the world. If you want a legacy that lasts, trust the One who lives for eternity.

You can’t prove yourself right to everyone. You can do all the right things, and someone will still say that what you are doing is wrong. But that argument is not worth your time or energy.

Just worship Jesus. Sit at His feet. Jesus is preparing you for something great.

Respond

1. What are some things people tell you that don’t line up with God’s truth?

2. How can you stop exhausting yourself by listening to others’ opinions? Ask God to help you confront the opinions of others with the truth of His Word.

3. What are tangible ways you can worship Jesus and find time to pursue Him?