It can paralyze you in minutes.

It can render you helpless, weak and confused.

It can steal the good and leave you with bad.

What am I talking about?

Worrying about what others are thinking.

I’ve been there and quite honestly

 I still need to deal with this at times.

It doesn’t matter what we do….

   or what we say…..

someone might criticize us.

That’s just life on planet earth.

Growing up many, many years ago I tended to be shy

and fearful.

I scrutinized the faces of people- family members, teachers, acquaintances etc

trying to see if they approved of me. What they were thinking.

Round and round my thoughts would go.

Always worried. Always uneasy. Always wrong in my thinking.

Because the truth is

   God knows us deeply – through and through –

Only He is worthy of our trust and adoration.

Only He knows us well enough.

People have their own issues. 

They struggle with their own insecurities but as long as

we put our confidence in them and how they see us

we will always be weak and confused.

Yes, it’s a futile battle, isn’t it?

But as we learn to live for the applause of One

 we will experience a peace that does pass understanding.

We can learn from the comments of others but live our lives for His approval.

Refuse to worry about the thoughts of others.

Stand tall. Stoop low as you serve. And give thanks for all.

So are you looking for ways to build more peace in your life?

Here it is.

Stop worrying about what others are thinking.

 And, I, for one, need the Lord to help me do this.

“The greatest prison people live in is the fear of what other people think.”

Proverbs 29:25 It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the Lord, you are safe.