Longing To Be Popular

Longing to Be Popular

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.

My husband and I pulled up to the small-town Eagles Club on a Saturday night.

“Ready?” I asked him, taking a deep breath as we opened our car doors. I stepped out, tottering briefly on high heels, smoothing the back of my shirt as I straightened my shoulders. Walking slowly toward the building, I entered a gloomy entryway lit with neon signs. It was my high school class reunion.

On the way to the event, my husband joked that it wasn’t too late to go to a movie. I’ll be honest; I was tempted. Although I enjoyed high school and had great friends, I now realize how often I compared myself to others and found myself lacking. As an adult, I have no desire to return to that version of myself. Yet as we circled the room filled with old classmates, I felt my innate shyness emerge, and it frustrated me. I felt unsure about who to approach or what my reception would be like. In my current friendships, I rarely feel that kind of pressure. So why was I letting my insecurities get the better of me?

Tim and I visited with old friends for a few hours, said our goodbyes, and headed home. In the darkness of the night, my husband dozed while I drove, and I found myself engulfed in a mix of emotions. Although I enjoyed the event and caught up with friends I hadn’t seen in the past decade, the evening was marred by my own insecurities as I wondered if my life seemed too boring or if who I had become lived up to others’ expectations.

It’s human nature to want to feel well liked, but Scripture reminds us that getting others to think well of us is not our primary aim in life. Instead, God’s good opinion should be our highest goal. As friends, let’s encourage others to embrace their God-given identity instead of falling victim to the false idol of comparison. And if we choose to compare ourselves to anyone, may it be our friend Jesus.

— Kristin

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Prioritize friendships that encourage you to focus on God’s approval, rather than those that foster a competitive striving for the approval of others.