Breaking free (or trying to)

 

When I began this journey of breaking free of people-pleasing, I truly felt God wanting me to be willing to say hard truths to people. To not edit my words to make man happy and instead, live for God. 

 

I flashed back to a memory. I was a teenager and had made a state basketball team. I was playing with 11 other girls I didn’t know at all. One of them was a Christian. She could tell that she was the least talented member of the team and told me that she thought she was there to share Christ — more than play basketball.

 

She then started witnessing left and right. And I got super uncomfortable. As she would share about Jesus, 

I found myself editing her words, trying to make the recipient less uncomfortable. My Christian teammate finally pulled me aside and asked that I stop “helping” her.

 

I haven’t thought about that story in decades. But I have realized, it’s how I lived my life. I shared about Jesus, but safely. Not too much pressure. Don’t point out their sins.

 

This week one of my good friends asked if I would be willing to share with her about behaviors in her life that might be contrary to how she wants to be living for Christ. I sat there in shock.

 

Here it is. Rubber meets the road. Will I speak truth?

 

I’ll be honest, I’m still scared. Someone may choose to abandon me or get mad at me. And my story says that is a fate worth than death.

 

But … Galatians 1:10, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

 

Baby steps. But I’m stepping.