Tuesday, June 25, 2013

The Prison of People-pleasing


When I look to people for my security, whether financial, emotional, or otherwise, I'm trapped by how they respond to my needs. When I look to Jesus, I'm safe and secure. Only He has the resources to make me whole.

This must be what the writer of Proverbs meant when he said, "The fear of man brings a snare; those who trust in the Lord are secure." Proverbs 29: 25.

Have you ever been caught in the trap of people-pleasing? What ways has the Lord showed you how precious you are to Him?

8 comments:

  1. Oh yes. For many years. It has only been in recent years that I haven't. It us freeing.

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  2. I get caught up in this one a lot. Sort of my curse of feeling deeply I suppose. It always comes back to Gal. 1:10 for me. Such a powerful reminder.

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  3. I think of that verse about "no temptation taken you but such as is common to man....God is faithful and will make a way to escape" etc. I think people-pleasing is a Very Common temptation! It is actually quite a bit more selfish than I care to admit - for I'm really looking not so much to "please" someone else as to be thought well of myself!

    The "way to escape" has come in many ways for me over the years and is uniquely suited to me and the particular situation by the loving Heavenly Father Himself!

    (Just thinking "out loud" on screen here......)

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  4. Jeanette:
    As I look back on my life, I find that when I tried to please people I did in MY eyes, not necessarily theirs. It explains a lot. Thank you for this special topic.

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  5. The very prison I'm escaping from. Really. I've been pressing hard into the Lord on just these types of issues in my life. Twice today, that's been highlighted again.

    Thank you!

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  6. Definitely put myself in this prison many times.

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  7. The fear of men being a snare.... yup, so true. I don't think I am a people pleaser, I have discovered long time ago that it is okay to be different :)

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  8. I am afraid that I have been in the people pleasing trap many times. I know that I should stop it. Lately, as I have gone shopping, I have a smile on my face and a love in my heart for people. I also often have a passion to find a certain thing. It is as I greet people and talk to them and ask questions that they have seemed to light up and we have had some wonderful discussions. I don't know why this has been happening. It isn't me. I think it just may be one of God's little grace notes.

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