Chasing CarrotsSample

Chasing Approval

Here’s the thing: Approval is something you should desire. Stick with us—this isn’t some sort of bait-and-switch.

Approval is something you should desire. The thing that will make or break you is whose approval you seek.

We’re conditioned in life to seek the approval of people. As children, adults praise us when we do good things. We enjoy their praise, so we continue doing good things. In school, we study hard in search of praise from teachers, or we goof off to find acceptance from peers. Once we enter the workforce, we put in long hours in hopes of impressing our bosses, or we buy bigger houses and better cars to gain the respect of our friends and family.

And when we succeed in gaining the approval of people? We feel great. The world looks brighter. We walk with a spring in our step. Our very sense of self-worth is strengthened.

But.

You knew there was going to be a “but.”

Eventually, one of those people will fail to give you approval. And when that happens, it can be a mess. You may already know this.

It’s not that you were looking to the wrong people. You won’t ever find the approval you need from people. Only God can speak your deepest need for approval. And guess what? You don’t have to stand on your head or act a certain way to gain His approval. The moment you accept Christ as your Savior and make Him the Lord of your life, you’re approved by God. That’s it. You’re set, because from that point on, you’re God’s child. 

Chances are you’ve heard all of this before. Today, let yourself feel it. You have all the approval you could ever need—approval that will never falter or fail. Your worth is secure, and you can rest in the approval of God your Father.

Consider: Who or what are you currently looking to for approval? How would your relationships change if you let God’s approval meet that need?