Whose Opinion Matters Most?

Today we’re jumping into something we all deal with—people’s opinions.

Whether it’s how you parent, what you wear, how you talk, or even how you worship—someone always seems to have a thought about it.

It’s easy to start living for their approval instead of God’s. But today, we’re going to laugh a little, get honest, and remind ourselves whose opinion really matters most.

Let’s start with the question: How much weight do we give to what people think?

Our scripture for today is Galatians 1:10 (NLT) –“Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.”

Ever gotten a new haircut and someone says, “Oh... that’s different”? Or how about when we get a haircut and don’t like it, and now we’re the ones sharing our opinions with others? Either way, our confidence takes a hit. We stop seeing ourselves in a positive light, all because of someone’s opinion—and we hold onto that tightly.

We’ve all had moments where one comment sticks like gum on a shoe. Often, those opinions shape how we see ourselves. But God’s voice? It’s steady, not snarky. His is the only opinion that truly matters.

Social media has us comparing everything—our homes, our vacations, even our Bible journaling. But the Lord doesn’t grade us on a curve. He just wants our hearts. Not our highlight reels.

Have you ever compared yourself to others so hard that it formed a negative opinion about yourself? I know I have.

Here’s the deal—we need to form our opinions by seeking truth in God’s Word. Worldly influences will steer us wrong, but God never will.

Our scripture today reminds us: trying to please everyone means losing focus on pleasing the One who really matters. You can’t win the crowd and walk in your calling.

When we let others’ opinions drive us, we lose sight of the fact that we live and work for God. With that shift in focus, our whole perspective changes. It won’t be easy at first—it’s a habit to break—but over time, others' opinions won’t matter as much. You’ll be grounded in whose you are and how He sees you.

If you’ve ever played out a conversation before it even happened, lost sleep replaying something you said, or reworded a text five times just to avoid offending someone—you’re not alone. Let’s talk about letting go of people-pleasing.

I used to be a people pleaser. I didn’t want to handle anything that needed to be worked out face-to-face, afraid I’d say something wrong. Instead, I’d write out notes and hand them to the person. But that’s no better—they can’t hear the heart behind the letter. Avoiding hard conversations didn’t ease my anxiety—it actually made it worse, because I was constantly worrying about their response.

Trying to please everyone is like playing Whack-A-Mole at a carnival. As soon as you meet one expectation, another one pops up. God didn’t call us to that kind of life. He called us to rest and peace.

Jesus—the perfect Son of God—was constantly misunderstood, criticized, and judged. If He couldn’t please everyone, what makes us think we can? Let’s take the pressure off ourselves.

We pile expectations on situations and people, which only leads to disappointment. Nothing will ever fully meet every expectation we create.

Here’s something else we need to release—saying no. It can feel like a betrayal, like we’re letting people down. But we’re not. Setting boundaries is actually healthy.

Jesus said no, stepped away, and rested. Pleasing God means being honest, not overbooked.

You’re not rude for setting a boundary. It shows wisdom, discernment, and growth.

Have you ever stopped explaining yourself to someone and realized the world didn’t end?

I often catch myself apologizing for rambling because I want to be understood. But the more I talk, the more I feel like I’m causing confusion—so I just keep going, and then apologize again. It’s a cycle.

Of course, there are moments when I speak clearly and stop, and I always feel better about those conversations. I don’t replay them over and over in my mind.

It’s wise to slow down, choose our words carefully, and not feel like we need to apologize for who we are. Seek God for wisdom and discernment.

Let’s talk about walking confidently in God’s truth about us—even when others don’t get it.

What God says about you is unchanging: loved, chosen, equipped, forgiven. That’s your identity, and no opinion can cancel that out. Root yourself in truth, not in opinions. It takes time to grow into that confidence—maybe a lifetime. But knowing God loves you is the best place to start.

It’s okay if not everyone claps when you walk in the room. Confidence doesn’t come from being liked—it comes from being secure. Heaven’s cheering, so you’re good. Know who you are in Christ, and all will be okay.

Here’s a twist—while we’re learning to be free from others’ opinions, let’s also be people who give grace. Assume the best. Speak life. Let your words lift, not label.

People’s opinions come and go, but God’s view of you never changes. Walk in that today. Be kind, be bold, be free. And remember—you’re already approved by the only One who matters.

As we grow in this, let’s remember we’re all in different places in our walk with God. Each of us should be in the Word—studying, learning, listening, and applying what the Holy Spirit is teaching us. That’s where change happens. That’s how we learn God’s opinion is the one that counts.

So remember where you were before God released you from the weight of opinions—and give others grace.

Today we learned something big: People’s opinions might affect us, but they don’t define us. You don’t have to prove your worth—it’s already been declared by your Creator.

So next time someone says something off, smile, shake it off, and walk confidently in who God made you to be.