#FEARLESS365 is a yearlong study of God’s commandment to us to live without fear. For 365 days, we will focus on one scripture and volunteers from all over the world will share their personal thoughts and what God has shared with them on the specific verse. For more info… go here.

The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Psalm 118:6

Pleasing others and caring about what they think of me has always been a fight that I have fought for years. From as far back as I can remember I have been the one that would look to be liked and loved by everyone that I came across. Why? I can honestly say that I have not looked into that until recently; until I was forced to look myself in the mirror and ask myself where did this approval from others come from and why? When I took the time to analyze myself, I saw that every since I was young, pleasing others was my goal starting from pleasing my parents and I believe if stemmed from there in addition to me not being comfortable in my own skin.

In recent years, I have had to pull on and glean from my relationship with my Heavenly Father and that that relationship was the most important. Not only that, but what He said and thinks about me is what matters. He is the one that I should worry about pleasing. I am learning more and more to be God focused and not man focused. If I do not please God then I am in trouble. I have no future or hope. He is the one that decides and actually has my future planned and He is the only one that no matter what choices I make that can help me. People may love me one moment and hate me the next, but Father God does not change His love for me. So what does, Psalms 118:6 mean to me? It means that I do not have to worry about mere man can do because they cannot do nothing to me that God cannot stop or work out for my good. Most importantly, that I am never ever alone. Man may leave me because I do or do not do something they want, but Father God never leaves me. My insecurity and reliance on others for approval is gone.

Serena Hale is a Full-time Counselor Assistant and Part-time Blogger who lives in Metro Atlanta Area. She loves make-up, but not sure how to apply it.