Can’t Please Everyone

As we go through life we will find there will be times when others are upset with us about what we have decided to do. We will find others have opinions about what we should be in life. We will find there will be others who want us to do what they believe we should do. When this happens, there is tension between us and the other person. We may give in and do as they wish but the right direction to go isn’t always to do what they want us to do.
1 Thessalonians 2:4 “For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.”

The right direction is to go to God for help. We are to do as He asks us to do in all situations. We can know what He wants us to do by studying His word. We can know what He wants us to do by sharing our situations with others who trust in Him. We can know what He wants us to do by listening or reading about examples in the past from people who have done as He requested rather than what others wanted. When we do as God wants us to do, others may get upset but God will take control of the situation and make things right.

When others get upset at us, we need to remember it is basically because they have an opinion about what they believe we need to do about a certain situation, about a direction we should go or about what we should say when we have to deal with another person. They are entitled to their own opinion but we need to tactfully tell them it is really our choice. We need to tell them we are doing what we feel is right based on what God has told us to do.

It is important when we decide to make the decision we make based on God’s answer that we let others know what we are doing and why. They need to know we aren’t trying to ignore their opinions. They need to know we aren’t trying to be selfish. They need to know we want to do as God asks us to do so He can work a greater work through us based on what others need from us at that time.

Timing and needs are important when we make a decision and step away from trying to please everyone. We can’t possibly make everyone happy with an action we take. There will always be someone who feels left out, who feels betrayed or who gets upset. The devil will make sure that someone has something to say about what we do. The devil will try to get in the middle to stir things up.

Our actions should be those that are pleasing to God. When we stop thinking about what we are or aren’t doing to please others and just do what God wants us to do, we will know God will be in control. When we step out to do what God wants us to do, we need to have faith. We know there will be a lesson to be learned for all who are involved. We know will be taking action that is not selfish or because we want to please others but we are taking action to please God and to make a difference.

Hebrews 11:6 “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”