I was talking with a friend the other day and told her how I have been worried about my job. Since the car accident, I have not been able to work as many hours as usual and I was worried my clients would be frustrated I am not able to meet their deadlines. She was listening as I explained my situation and as I was asking her to pray, it dawned on me that I should not be focusing on trying to please them.
Actually, I should not be worried about pleasing anyone.
Pleasing People
There is a burden that sits on our shoulders when we try to please others. It is the pressure of performance. If you have ever tried to please another person, you will understand when I say it is hard to please people! Unfortunately, I am a “people-pleaser” and for years I have based how well I did at something by the affirmation I received from others.
If they praised my work, I knew I did well. If they were disappointed, I beat myself down for not doing better. However, God has been teaching me that it is okay when my best is not enough, and I do not meet expectations. It is okay when I do not please others.
If I disappoint people that does not mean I disappoint God.
Pleasing God
The truth is, you and I will not please everyone. It is part of life. The good news is we can easily please God. There is nothing you have to do or be to please Him, you only have to believe in Him (Hebrews 16:11). He is happy because you are you and you love Him. There is no pressure to perform. He is singing glorious songs all around us right now (Zephaniah 3:17). It is not because we did something great, prayed a super deep prayer or read the bible for hours. It is simply because He loves us.
Princesses, you please Him by being yourself and believing in Him.
I do not have a very long post for you today, I only want to remind you that God is pleased with you. I am learning this too, Princesses, and it still baffles me that there is not a requirement we have to meet for God to love us.
But…
What if I do not pray enough?
What if I do not remember to honor my parents?
What if I sin?
What if I do not love enough?
What if I mess up?
Is He really still smiling then?
Do you know that even then, He is still loving you? God loves you unconditionally. This means regardless of your past, mistakes, guilt, shame, failures He will never give up on you (John 10:28). This is His grace.
My Prayer For You
“Father, thank you for this day. Thank you for loving us and delighting in us. I ask that you help us to focus not on pleasing people, or trying to be perfect, but on You. Show us how pleasing we are to you. Show us how to walk as princesses and how to listen to Your Spirit in everything we do and say. Help us to receive your grace in our lives. You are amazing God and we love you. Thank you for being our Papa. Amen.”
With Love,
Katya
p.s. My back is doing so much better these days! I am not in pain anymore, it is just a little sore here and there. Thank you so much for all the prayers. :)
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.