Have you ever gone above and beyond for someone and they fail to take notice? Of course you have. Because you're you. You pour yourself out as soon as you've been filled. You think about how someone would appreciate or at least notice those home baked muffins, clean floor, laundry done, and bills paid. You look at their to-do list and you consider how you can take a load off of them for today. And sure, its done out of the goodness of your heart, unless, the deed goes unnoticed. Unless, the "thank you" is replaced by complaints of their days or a new and better excitement around the corner. The things you did to bring joy, brought nothing. Literally nothing. You poured out joy and its just laying there on the floor staring back at you.
I felt this today. I knew it in my heart as I was doing it. As I scrubbed the smashed food out of the carpet, dug the ball pit balls out from under the couch, scrubbed the floors and even made my husbands favorite granola bars, I knew I was craving a "thanks." I couldn't wait for him to come home, to notice me. Not even so much me, I mean "me" could really use a hair brushing and some deodorant, but what I truly wanted was for him to notice what I had accomplished.
He didn't. And to be fair, by the time he got home, my son had redecorated the living room with all of his books on the floor, dinner was being made frantically, and I had lost an important key. The ideal "welcome home" was a bit shadowed by the reality of life with a toddler.
I wish I could say that I just moved on. But, instead I began to list the things I had done throughout the day. Still awaiting the applause. I made myself the point. Instead of making serving my family the goal, I was the goal. I wanted to be the star, and I wanted to be "thanked."
God prompted the apostle Paul to write to the church in Galatia concerning their wavering faith. He was astonished that they'd turn away from the truth so soon. Their eyes were easily swayed and their minds easily distracted by other "truths." People were infiltrating their church and bringing trouble. They were twisting the Gospel by adding to and taking from,d as it pleased them and their lifestyle. So, God sent Paul to confront them, a pretty big ask.
In Galatians 1:10 Paul asks himself a heart check question prior to continuing on.
"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."
Paul was called to convince and convict the Church of Galatia toward the one true Christ and His one true Gospel. Have you ever had to have an intervention with someone? Have you seen them heading down the wrong and dark path and knew you just couldn't stay silent? And, if you did stay silent, could you honestly say you truly loved them? God calls us to a standard of loving people enough to tell them the truth. But there's a fear associated with this kind of truth in love confrontation. A fear of loss, a fear of being hated, or harmed, or cut out.
Paul stated that his motives were not to please men. Quite frankly, he may have pissed a few off. But, ultimately he knew he had an audience of One, The Christ. He knew that if his heart craved the applause of the men of Galatia, his motives would be misplaced. But, through a heart that was striving to please God, he would aim to turn these people back to the truth.
So, when we begin to crave the "thank you" from our people, which we will, let's use that as a red flag to check our hearts and ask ourselves these question:
1. Am I seeking the approval of man, or of God?
2. Am I trying to please man? or God?
3. Who am I ultimately desiring to serve?
The coolest thing happens when my heart shifts from trying to please man to trying to please God. I actually please them both! I sit in the knowledge that I am seen and loved and called and capable of really hard things because of who I am in Christ. I know that I am pleasing Him when my heart is towards Him and my eyes are fixed on Him, instead of my strivings to be seen. A peace floods my heart when I remember that because of Jesus' sacrifice for me, I get to live a sacrificial life for others.
Suddenly, I don't need a "thank you." And, when I get one, it doesn't "complete me" or make me feel worthwhile, it just provokes a smile. Thats all. It doesn't have the power to build up or tear me down. My worth and my report card of the day isn't hanging in the balance until the words are uttered.
So when the craving for a "thank you" comes as suddenly as a thief in the night trying to steal your joy, remember to stop, breathe, acknowledge your desire, and communicate it with God. Don't give the enemy a foot hold into your moment. Stop trying to pour out from an empty cup and go take a moment to remind yourself why you do what you do and who helps you through. Thank God for the ability you have to do hard things.
God sees you sweet girl. He notices your effort and notices your heart. He sees the way you crack open and pour out like a broken vessel and He wants to mend you. He wants to soothe your open pores and be your source of refueling. Let His love pour into you. Let His goodness wash over you. And allow His faithfulness to pour out of you today.
Thank you my sweet friends!
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Jessica