Validation and Approval

“Commit your future to the Lord! Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf. He will vindicate you in broad daylight, and publicly defend your just cause. Wait patiently for the Lord! Wait confidently for him! (Ps. 37:5-7 NET)

Overall, I’m a pretty confident person. Nobody would accuse me of being a ‘people-pleaser’. In fact, I often come across as abrasive rather than appeasing. I’m usually not one to seek validation and approval, yet I am affected by disapproval and rejection. I make a lot of choices based on this distaste for disapproval, especially when I am around those I care about. I say ‘yes’ to things when I shouldn’t. I keep my mouth shut when I should speak up. I expend resources on ill-fitting projects. I embark on paths that are not meant for me. I do these things to avoid disapproval; yet, I find that these choices lead to discontentment—for me and for others. I feel uneasy, because I’ve made a choice to be inauthentic—to go along with something that doesn’t feel right. Others feel displeasure, because I’m probably not meeting their expectations; plus, they can tell that my heart is not in it.

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10 NIV)

It is an Either/Or situation—we can either commit to being validated by God or continue to seek human approval. We can either trust God to vindicate our actions or attempt to futilely defend our choices to the world.

“Open up before God, keep nothing back; he’ll do whatever needs to be done;

He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.” (Ps. 37: 5-7 MSG)