“Here’s the problem: when we’re busy getting our validation from the people around us, we stop looking for it from God. You’ll know this is happening to you when you go with what’s popular rather than what’s eternal, when you settle for what feels good right now rather than opting for what will make a good and lasting impact a decade from now” – Bob Goff
This quote WOKE. ME. UP.!
Validation: recognition or affirmation that a person or their feelings or opinions are valid or worthwhile.
I want to talk about this only because I often find myself craving the validation of this world rather than the validation of God. I used to put so much thought into what this world thought of me and I wanted nothing more than to please it with a cherry on top. It was tragic and life-sucking.
Before the race, I wanted to find the perfect balance of worldliness and Christian so people wouldn’t start thinking I was insane or “too much”. I remember the days when I would get so turned off by people who were ALL Jesus ALL the time. I always thought those people were putting on a show and I questioned their ability to be joyful all the time. It’s funny because I know now that it wasn’t a show at all. The joy that they were portraying was the exact joy I feel today! That joy is as real as it gets. This world needs something real and I’m thankful for those people who didn’t try to hide it.
I often find myself terrified that I will push people away from Christianity. I get worried I will say something that will turn someone off and then they are doomed for the rest of eternity. I would love to say I never conform to this world, but that would be a lie. I actually conform WAY more often then I would like, but that’s how I know how lifeless it is to live for this world’s validation. When I conform, I am basically giving God the finger and saying “I don’t trust you.” When I find myself trying to please those around me instead of God I know I’m in a big pickle.
Our alone time with God is priceless and brings a lot of fulfillment, but you know what brings our faith to completion? Telling people about Him. Talking about all the good He has done in your life and others. SPREADING HIS LOVE TO THE MASSES because “Faith without works is dead.” James 2:14
Jesus walked on this planet two thousand years ago and He is coming back. It’s time we start to believe that with every inch of our being and start LIVING out how He so graciously told us to. He never said, “And I would like you to live for this world.” NO! Paul actually says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of the world” Romans 12:2. It’s time we quit worrying about the validation of this world and live for an audience of ONE.
Living for this world is exhausting. Take it from me, you will NEVER please everyone and there is no fun in fitting in or trying to strut the whole “I’m going to act like I don’t care, but I really do” look. Seriously! I know that look really well because I used to wear it all the time. That was honestly even more exhausting because then I tried to be emotionless and that was a disaster.
I want you to ask yourself if and how you have fallen into this whole “living for the world” mess. Ask yourself why you care about what the people around you think instead of what God thinks. Then pray and destroy that desire in your heart. Kill it! It doesn’t belong to you. There is going to come a day when Jesus returns and everything we did to live up to worldly standards won’t matter. What will matter is how we lived for Him. The cool thing about that is living for Him is so much better. I call that a WIN-WIN, BABY!
Our perfect father brings LIFE. Everlasting life. Full of all the goods.
Believe that.
Xx,
Mace
