Everyone doesn’t like you. They don’t need a reason, some folks are just that way. If it makes you feel any better, everyone doesn’t like me either. Other people’s opinion of you is something you cannot change. It is what it is.
Many times in my life I have let other people’s opinion of me weigh me down. Sometimes I knew their opinion and other times I probably just assumed I knew how they felt. Either way, I should not have let it get to me but it did.
You know your own heart. I don’t know your struggles. No one else really knows where you are at except you and God. In the end, isn’t that really all that matters?
If you are not careful you can let other people’s opinion rob you of the joy that God can give you. I know I have done that in the past. Remember, only you know the sorrow or happiness that is in your heart.
Proverbs 14:10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; And a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
God’s Knowledge of Your Heart Matters More Than Other People’s Opinion
The apostle Paul was not a show off. Certainly, with his education he could have used great words and flowery speech to impress the people of that time. He was aware that he could have used worldly wisdom to make a name for himself but he chose instead to trust the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to guide his speech.
Godly wisdom is not very popular today. The same was true in Paul’s day. He suffered many persecutions for the Gospel’s sake. Other people’s opinion of Paul was not very good in most places.
Paul remained true to his God-led heart. He understood that favor with God was more important that popularity with men. The apostle trusted the Spirit of God to direct his walk even if other people did not like what he was doing. If your heart is right with God trust in that, and realize that no one else knows your heart anyway.
1 Corinthians 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Other People’s Opinion Can Even Be Wrong With Religious People
Jesus performed many great miracles. It seems to me that when people saw these things that they would have known who he was. The religious crowd at that time did not believe it. Their hearts were so hard that they could not believe that Jesus was the Messiah that they were waiting on.
The Pharisees were very influential among the Jewish people in the time of Christ. Isaiah prophesied many years earlier about people that would not believe that the Savior had come. The very people that should have seen Christ for who he was did not even recognize him.
Not only did the Pharisees not believe that Jesus was the Son of God, they wanted to kill him. They knew about His miracles and saw Him as a threat to their power. Anyone who followed Jesus was also in danger from the Pharisees.
John tells us in his Gospel that there were many people among the chief rulers that believed in Jesus. They feared that if they confessed Him that they would be put out of the synagogue. Church members today can be in the wrong just like the Pharisees. Don’t worry about what someone at church thinks of you if you know you are right with God.
John 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
You Are Accountable To God In The End
I don’t always think long term. There is something about this flesh that makes me want to please everyone now. Maybe you have this same issue. It can certainly hinder our Christian walk.
Before I got saved, I was accountable for my sins. Now, as a child of God, I believe that I am accountable for the Gospel. That responsibility may not always make me popular in this life but it is pleasing to God when Christians do His will.
Peter tells us that there is “joy unspeakable and full of glory” that comes with the trial of your faith. A commitment to stay with God and trust His leading will bring peace to your heart. Obedience to the Lord is the only way for a Christian to find fulfillment in their life.
Maybe people don’t think as bad of you as you think or perhaps they don’t like you at all. I have found that some people just like to tear others down. I don’t understand that but it is the truth. Whatever other people’s opinion of you may be, I just want to encourage you to keep working for the Lord. Don’t throw in the towel because you think that someone does not like you. You can have and maintain joy in your heart knowing that you are right with God and doing your best for Him.
Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.