“Listen to me, you who know righteousness,
the people in whose heart is my law;
fear not the reproach of man,
nor be dismayed at their revilings.”
– Isaiah 51:7
If you know the Lord, His love for you, His presence in your life, and His word, rest in that. Ground yourself and your sense of self in the Lord Jesus Christ, His righteousness in you, and His teachings. Trust in these things and let them define you. Then don’t worry about what other people think or say about you!
That can be hard… Too many Christians are still concerned about being liked, respected, and popular. They are uncomfortable in their own skin and afraid of being scorned by others. If that describes you, draw near to God and work to be set free from that. Truly following Jesus in the way of Jesus often isn’t popular. Jesus certainly wasn’t liked or respected by many He came to save. Don’t let your happiness or sense of worth be based on what other people think or say about you. Draw near to God and ground your being in His approval and love.
The more you know the Lord and what the Bible teaches, the easier this becomes. You know that God loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you. You know that He will never leave or forsake you. You know that by His grace, through faith in Jesus, your sins have been forgiven and God has welcomed you into His family as His precious, beloved, adopted child. You know that Christ is always with you. You know that you’re sealed by the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of the eternal inheritance you will receive in God’s presence. When you truly know these things, then the Holy Spirit can make you very bold indeed, unafraid of the reproaches, insults, and scorn of other people. #FollowJesus