Are you always trying to please others?

Do you put too much emphasis on what other people think of your work, or maybe your ideas? Does this lead you to doubt yourself? 

I started listening to Fr. Mike Schmitz reading through "The Imitation of Christ." It is offered free online through Ascension.

Anyway, in Chapter 7 of Book 1 he read:

". . . the judgments of God are different from the judgments of man; and often times that displeaseth Him which pleaseth men."

If you get stuck in worrying about what other people think, this little insight is invaluable. 

Sometimes we can place so much importance on what other people think, that it stifles what we do. If somebody is critical, or if enough people do not respond positively as we think they ought, it can cause us to stop doing what we may be called to do. Our goal should not be to please others, but God. 

Something I often pray for is to know and do God's will. 

Now imagine if it is God's will for us to do what we are doing, but we discover that others do not like it. As it says in "The Imitation of Christ," God judges differently, and while you may not be pleasing other people, you might very well be pleasing God.

Be careful to recognize that whatever you do, you must be doing it for God, according to his will; know that it may not please others, and that's okay, because God is the ultimate One we need to please.

Janet Cassidy

Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com or click on any of the links below for more reflections from me.

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