Walking Free: Taking Small Steps to a Big God by Micah TylerSample

When someone uses the phrase “people-pleaser,” we know that means someone who will do about anything to ensure everyone is happy with him/her. The more a people-pleaser struggles to keep others content, the more tired he/she becomes from avoiding conflict at all costs, saying whatever will deflect attention, ignoring the real problem, and patronizing whenever necessary.

As our culture has become increasingly violent, ironically, on the other end of the spectrum, it also very much encourages passivity. The Internet and social media have allowed anyone to have a voice in almost everyone’s life, all anonymously. Disagreement is no longer civil but fighting words. So, we are challenged in our first verse when Jesus paraphrased, “You want to see who My kids are? Look for those who work to bring My peace into this world.” When we decide to become His peacemaker, the end goal is resolve and reconciliation. But until then, a lot of work is required to get there.

God never called His followers to just keep the peace. We are called to make peace. Yet, we cannot offer something that we don't have. We can’t give away something we have never experienced. The only way to encounter authentic personal peace is through a relationship with Christ. Being a peacemaker can only begin when our own hearts are right with Him. Once that connection has been made, we can only bring true peace to any situation as an overflow of our relationship with Him.

God does not give us peace just so we can experience it, but also that we can go out and proactively make peace. When we see opportunities to help people, bring solutions to situations, and make something right that has been wrong, that brings God's peace to earth. In every circumstance, He has a plan for how peace can be delivered by someone willing to work at it in and through Him.

Trying to constantly please people is exhausting and endless work. Choosing to please God may not make everyone happy, but it will certainly change the world—our own, those we love, and anyone we can reach in Jesus’ name.

Is there any area in your life where you need to give up people-pleasing and focus on making peace and pleasing God?