I always knew that I worried about people liking me but now I realize it is rooted in a fear of being rejected.

I read an amazing book called, Search for Significance– about finding your true worth.  Anyways it has a few quizzes (which I have always loved- thanks teen girl magazines for getting me hooked). Quizzes to see if I fear failure, or rejection, punishment from God, or to see if I live in shame.

Well I bombed the the fear of rejection.

I did not realize how much of my mental space is taken up by worrying what others think of me.  Sometimes it is the worry over shallow things such as appearance but mostly over what do they think of who I am, my very person.

I just shared 2 nights ago at our church’s 5 year birthday celebration/team night (for all our volunteers) on how I live in this fear.  One of the lessons I am learning on this church planting journey is to choose freedom instead of fear.

Fear of all kinds (fear of rejection, failure, the future etc) is paralyzing.  It binds me and feels like I am locked up.  Over and over I feel like the Lord tells me to let go of the fear.  It is better to choose freedom in Christ.  It is better to remember what God thinks of me instead of worrying what others think of me.  I am a loved child of God.  Yes, I do screw up but I am a loved sinner.

It is so freeing to live transparent and who you are instead of trying to be fake or to live up to the standards of others.

Following Jesus is freedom in so many ways.

So one of my verses from today’s daily Bible reading was so perfect for what my heart has been wrestling with.  It is amazing how like 99% of the time when I actually take the time to read my Bible and soap/journal (check out how to here)- God has a specific word/encouragement for me.

“The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.”- Proverbs 29:25 (the Message)

“Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.”- same verse but the NLT version.

Those verses sum it up perfectly.