The Problem with People Pleasing

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man?

Galatians 1:10

It’s very easy for us to get caught up in the trap of people pleasing. Many times it’s not intentional—we experience the emotional high of meeting someone else’s expectations and we feel appreciated. While it’s not wrong to help others, it becomes a problem when we are focusing more of our attention on man’s approval than of God’s approval. If we aren’t careful, we can divert ourselves further away from God’s calling and more towards the desires of people.

If we are more driven to pleasing people—they will eventually let us down. Mere humans can’t meet our every need and desire. People pleasers who struggle with their own self-worth and value will look for someone to validate their existence. However, the only fulfilling validation comes from the Lord.

When we live with the goal of pleasing God more than people, we aren’t limited by our intelligence, financial standing, or by the opinions of others. A life that seeks to please God will experience His grace that gives power above and beyond what is expected.

Pleasing God means that we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus and that we can do all things in His name. Pleasing God means that we are unafraid of the future because He’s given us His peace. Pleasing God means that we are never alone even when it seems like all hope is lost. Pleasing God means that we are free to love unconditionally just as we are loved by Him.

Our goal in life should be to press our way to understand how we can please God in every interaction in the home, work, school, and community. As we choose God every day, we discover how pleasing God is pleasing to ourselves and to others.