You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. Galatians 5:7-8
“What…are…those?” This was the question I was asked as we were unpacking groceries and supplies I bought yesterday morning. Once the question was asked, everyone gathered around to see the apparently odd specimen that was sitting on the table. I never gave my family’s reaction a thought when I innocently purchased foam rollers for my hair. Why in the world were they causing such a stir?
My hubby, with big eyes, informed me those were for grandmas. What in the world was he talking about? Well, apparently his grandma used to walk around with rollers in her hair every Saturday. After I informed him I bought them to wear to bed not walk around in all day, his expression went from stunned, to one of horror. The boys were just as bad! You would’ve thought they just found out I’d robbed a store.
I didn’t understand any of these reactions I was receiving! You know, it’s the most innocent of things that I do that tend to get the biggest reactions. I live with guys; they could care less about how I fix my hair. How are there strong opinions all of a sudden about by beauty regimen? I wasn’t asking them to put rollers in their hair!
“Mom you can’t do that,” I was told.
“You’re going to wear those to bed?!” asked my hubby in an odd kind of panic.
What was with these guys? I was trying something new for a wedding we were going to without using a curling iron. The humidity has been playing havoc with my hair when I use a flat iron lately. Even so…what do they care? Apparently a whole lot!
It actually was a hilarious experience that I’m still chuckling over today, but other people’s reactions aren’t always so funny when they make you question your beliefs, your thoughts, and even your worth. There is one thing that I can guarantee you, every person you know is going to have opinions of what you’re doing and how you should be doing it.
The important part is knowing how to sift through all their opinions in order to hear God’s opinion. Sometimes He’ll use people to confirm what you’ve been hearing from Him or give you sound advice, but sometimes the devil will use people to confuse you and get you to step out of the will of God.
There’s only one way to know for sure how to sift through those opinions correctly, and that’s to go directly to the One who knows the best for you. This is where we need to carefully weigh all the advice so it doesn’t steal our joy and confidence that we receive through Jesus. We need to figure out which ones to respectfully let go and which ones to line up with.
Are you letting people’s opinions influence the way you’re living your life? Are they helping you run the race for the Lord or are you letting them steer you off course? Be careful that your eyes stay focused on the One at the end and not allowing the distractions from opinions make you lose your way. Go to God to open your eyes and ears for the path to Him.
