Quit scraping and fawning over mere humans, so full of themselves, so full of hot air! Can’t you see there’s nothing to them? — Isaiah 2:22 The Message
I used to say that I didn’t care what people thought about me. Of course, I was lying to myself. I cared a great deal. I wanted everyone to like me. I wanted everyone to approve of me. When someone criticized me or insulted me, I might not have shown it on the outside, but inwardly I was crushed.
One day a couple years ago, my boss told me that I was being "completely unprofessional." In the past, a comment like that might have ruined my day. I would have stewed on it all day long, defending myself in my mind. But not this time. In fact, I didn’t even notice my response until a few minutes after she said it.
Then I realized it: Wow! That didn’t bother me. Not even a little bit. I was completely at peace before I heard it and completely at peace after I heard it. In fact, now that I think about it, I heard this on the phone while some other people were busy being angry with me, and, you know what, that didn’t bother me either. This supervisor thought I was being unprofessional. That was her opinion. She might be right. She might be wrong. Either way, it didn’t bother me at all.
I’m not saying that I didn’t listen or that I didn’t care or that I’m not teachable. I’m just saying that the old panic, the old embarrassment, the old need for approval is gone.
Peace and courage are byproducts of the presence of God. As God begins to fill up the broken places in our hearts, people start to fall into perspective. We still love them and care about them. But they lose their godlike power in our lives.
Be encouraged!
Dwight
Dwight Clough is the author of four Christian books and is an active member of Lake City Church in Madison. This devotional is also available via email and you may review the archives back to 2002. To contact Dwight or Kim, use their contact form. You may also support their ministry.