I sat down with Romans 8 this morning and got my stuff completely rocked.

I’m a recovering people pleaser. So is half of my audience, if I had to guess. And while I was sitting with verses 9 through 17, something occurred to me that I have not been able to put down since.

What if God’s approval was an idol?

I know how that sounds. How could trying to please God be an idol? But what if the thing we’re actually chasing is the FEELING of being approved of, the feeling of being good enough – and not genuine connection with Him at all?

Then I did some listening prayer and asked Him where I’m holding back. He said: your fear of rejection reaches even to me. You don’t feel fully safe even with me. Let me heal you.

Whew.

What if releasing the need to do it right isn’t taking the easy way out? What if it’s refusing to give God less than He deserves? And why did it take me 2 weeks to pick my prayer journal back up?

Reading from the NRSVUE.

Takeaways:

– Your flesh doesn’t get to define you, and that includes the parts of an ADHD brain you’ve been apologizing for

– Actions show the priorities of the heart, so it’s worth asking what chasing approval actually reveals

– Seeking the feeling of approval can quietly lower God to the level of every other person whose approval you’ve chased

– You cannot attain His approval by performing, and you already have it

– Hard truth and ridiculous grace sit together in this passage, the same way they sit together in the whole faith

– If you want to read the whole Bible but can’t stick to a plan, just highlight what you’ve read in alternating colors and fill in the gaps

Sit with Romans 8:9-17 today. Then ask Him: Jesus, where am I holding back authenticity and connection from you?

And if you’re looking for the free Noise Journal (lil bundle of upgrades available if you need the extra support, but the guided journal itself is free), you can find that here.