Freedom from Fear: Trusting God Over People

Psalms 56:4

⁴ In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? (NIV)

Much of our angst stems from our concern about what others think of us, how they will respond to us, and what it means for our future. We often experience great pressure to make everyone around us content. This can be overwhelming. It can also create bitterness to the point that we reject any concern for how our words or actions affect other people. But the Lord wants us to minister to people, not be driven by their expectations. 

Our psalm this week connects two very important themes in the Christian walk. When we stop worrying about what people think or what they will do, we experience less fear. This only makes sense when we acknowledge how much of what other people think or say about us influences us, perhaps even irritates us. But we must let go of the pressure to do what others want to make them happy, fulfilled, or complete. If their fulfillment is based on how we act, we are their false god. The last thing we want to do is facilitate their idolatry. But in the same way, if we let their opinion of us dictate what we do and say, they are our idols. The key to freedom is to live for God alone. 

To live for God is to do what is best for others while releasing any need we feel to gain their approval. Jesus is our example. He was not out to win a popularity contest or the affection of certain people. He was a servant of His Father to do the will of the Father. 

The beautiful thing about serving the Lord is that He does not hold us accountable for the behaviors of others. To please Him, we only need to follow His direction with a sincere heart. The way others respond is between them and God. When we can serve God by ministering to others while releasing our need for their approval, the result is a diminished sense of stress and fear. Rather than the insecurity that comes from not pleasing people, we become secure in ourselves because God is actually easier to please than people. He does not ask us to do the impossible. 

God doesn’t command us to fix our marriage. He only asks us to do better in loving them. He doesn’t command us to make people love Him. He only asks us to be a good representative of His love to others. There is so much freedom to live to please God, not man, because we are actually able to do what He asks us to do. People will blame you for so much of what you cannot control. Their happiness hinges on your ability to do what is outside of your control. 

Ultimately, God has greater power than anyone else in our lives. When we stop trying to please them to serve Him only, His power to bless us is greater than the whole world’s ability to control us. Our freedom from fear comes when we trust God over people.