You Don’t Need the Crowd, You’ve Already Been Called
Friday, July 4, 2025
This verse is a line in the sand. It challenges us to consider whose approval we are really after—God's or people’s. It’s a call to examine our motives, and it speaks directly to those moments when we’re tempted to explain, justify, or delay obedience in hopes of making our journey more comfortable for others. But God isn’t looking for crowd-pleasers. He’s raising up those who are willing to walk in purpose, even if it costs them public approval.
Let’s Talk About It
Let’s take a deep breath together. Seriously—inhale. Hold it. Now exhale slowly. You’re not just breathing; you’re reminding yourself that God is your anchor. Because I know the weight of trying to explain what God is doing in your life. I know what it’s like to feel the need to offer disclaimers when you shift, justify your silence, or validate your obedience to people who just don’t get it. And let’s be real—it’s not always about arrogance or defensiveness. Sometimes it’s just about wanting to feel seen. Understood. Supported.
But here’s the truth: not everyone will get it, and they don’t have to.
Some instructions from God are so deeply personal, so tailored to your walk, that trying to make others understand them is like trying to explain the rhythm of your heartbeat. It’s internal. Sacred. Divine. You don’t need to explain what God said to people who weren’t in the room when He spoke it. And you don’t have to slow down your obedience just to make other people more comfortable.
I’m not saying this to make you toughen up. I’m saying it because I know how tender that space is. When God gives you a word and you’re scared to move too fast, too boldly, too “out of character.” But baby, what if your new character is the real you—the one God has been developing behind the scenes?
Boundaries Between Obedience and Opinion
The Apostle Paul is giving us a boundary in Galatians 1:10—not just a suggestion. He’s saying, “If I were still living to make people happy, I couldn’t live as a servant of Christ.” And let’s pause on that word servant—in Greek, it’s doulos, which means a bondservant, someone completely surrendered to their Master. Not halfway in. Not partially convinced. All in.
God never calls us into purpose with an addendum that says, “As long as everyone else agrees.” Abraham left everything without a detailed roadmap. Moses stepped into leadership while stuttering. Mary carried the Savior in her womb as a teenager with no husband. God doesn’t ask for resumes; He asks for a yes.
There is no biblical precedent for seeking popular opinion before moving with divine instruction. None. And yet, so many of us wait for the green light of human approval to start something God already called us to build.
So let’s be clear: Obedience is not up for debate. You don’t owe an explanation to people who weren’t assigned to your calling. You just owe God your yes.
Why It Feels So Hard to Be Misunderstood
Let’s be real—being misunderstood hurts. Not just emotionally, but physically. According to neuroscience, the pain of social rejection—like being excluded, dismissed, or unfairly judged—lights up the same parts of the brain that respond to physical pain. That means when someone misinterprets your motives, downplays your decisions, or walks away just because you’re changing… your brain actually experiences it like an injury.
It’s not just in your head. It’s in your body. Your nervous system goes on high alert. Your thoughts loop. You start asking questions like, “Did I say too much?” or “Maybe I should’ve just kept quiet.” Your brain’s wiring is doing its job: trying to protect you from pain.
But here’s the hope—and it’s powerful. Your brain is not fixed. It can change. This is the beauty of neuroplasticity: the ability of the brain to form new pathways based on new patterns. That means you can train your brain to stop equating safety with people’s approval. You can literally rewire your response to misunderstanding.
Instead of freezing, hiding, or over-explaining, your brain can learn to find safety in God’s presence and direction. You’re not meant to become cold or disconnected—just rooted. Anchored. Unshakeable.
Every time you choose obedience to God’s whisper instead of explaining yourself to people who may never understand, your brain learns that trust isn’t about clarity for others—it’s about confidence in Him.
So if you’ve been feeling like you’re losing your mind every time someone doesn’t “get” you—pause. You’re not losing anything. You’re learning how to be led by the right Voice.
Let’s Get Honest About Why We Over-Explain
If you’re someone who constantly feels the need to explain yourself—your decisions, your dreams, your next steps—you’re not alone. But that habit didn’t come out of nowhere.
It likely started in childhood, in classrooms where questions were seen as disruptions, or where your curiosity was labeled as "too much." Maybe you were in a family where disagreement wasn’t allowed, where compliance was confused with honor. Or maybe in church settings, silence felt unsafe—because if you weren’t talking, someone assumed you were rebellious or disinterested. And over time, those environments taught you something dangerous: If you’re not constantly explaining yourself, people will misunderstand you… and that’s not safe.
In educational theory, this is known as defensive learning—when a student begins to anticipate failure, criticism, or rejection, and adjusts their behavior to protect themselves. Over-explaining becomes a survival strategy. It’s less about clarity and more about control. We try to manage people’s perception of us before they can form their own.
But here’s the thing: God isn’t grading you on how clearly others understand your path. He’s looking at your trust. He doesn’t need a performance to approve you. In fact, He gave you the answer key before you even started—the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes people won’t understand the instructions you’ve been given because they’re not in your class. They didn’t hear the assignment. They didn’t see the dream God whispered to you in the night. They’re not reading the same syllabus. And you don’t need to keep explaining it to people who aren’t even supposed to be grading your paper.
You’re not rebellious. You’re just being set apart. And that’s holy.
Let’s Walk This Out Together
I know you may be tempted to skip ahead or rush into the next thing, but I want you to stay here for a moment. Right here—in this space between clarity and next steps. This moment matters. And I don’t want you to miss it by trying to rush toward action. Sometimes, the most transformative thing we can do is simply pause long enough to hear what our soul has been trying to whisper all along.
We live in a world that moves quickly. A world that often demands results, clarity, and explanations before we’ve even had time to process our own thoughts. But spiritual growth, personal healing, and deep transformation rarely happen in a hurry. So let’s slow things down. Let’s walk this out together—gently, intentionally, and with full awareness that God is right here in the process.
Today, I want to walk you through a coaching practice that is deeply spiritual, yet surprisingly simple. We’re not going to do the traditional “voice audit” exercise you may have done before. Instead, we’re going to lean into something that your soul may be quietly craving: permission.
Yes, permission.
Because more often than not, what keeps us stuck isn’t the dream we’re pursuing or the fear that tries to rise up—it’s the belief that we need someone else’s approval to move forward. It’s the silent wait for validation. The hesitancy that comes when we think we’re not “allowed” to follow what God has already whispered to our heart.
So today, I want you to give yourself permission. Not from a place of rebellion, but from a place of reverence. Not from pride, but from alignment with who God created you to be.
Here’s the practice:
Start by grabbing a blank sheet of paper or a page in your journal. At the very top, I want you to write, in big bold letters:
“I Give Myself Permission To…”
Let those words serve as a banner over this season of your life. A declaration that you are no longer waiting for someone else to grant you access to what God has already placed inside you.
Next, I want you to write five honest, bold, and freeing permission statements. Each one should begin with the phrase “I give myself permission to…” followed by whatever it is that your heart, your spirit, or your body needs to acknowledge right now. These statements don’t need to sound fancy or spiritual. They just need to be true. Let me give you a few examples to get you started,
“I give myself permission to follow God without explaining every detail to other people.”
“I give myself permission to walk away from environments that no longer reflect who I’m becoming.”
“I give myself permission to dream again, even if I’m still grieving the last dream that didn’t work out.”
“I give myself permission to feel unsure and still take the next step forward.”
“I give myself permission to speak less when silence is sacred and not perform when obedience is enough.”
Once you’ve written your five statements, pause and sit with them. Read them out loud. Let your own voice echo the freedom you are declaring over yourself. And as you sit in this moment, I want you to gently ask yourself: Where did I learn that I needed permission in the first place? Was it from childhood experiences where your voice wasn’t valued? Was it from religious settings that emphasized hierarchy over intimacy with God? Was it from relationships that taught you to shrink or seek approval?
Whatever the answer is, write it down. Acknowledge where the belief came from. Then—this part matters—I want you to do a symbolic act of breaking agreement with that lie. Take the sentence or belief you wrote down, and physically destroy it. Rip it into pieces. Tear it up. Burn it (safely). Toss it in the trash. This is not just a symbolic gesture—it is a prophetic act. You are choosing to release what no longer has authority over you.
Finally, return to your permission slip—the one you created for yourself—and read it again. This time, say it with strength. Let your voice carry the weight of freedom. Let it stir your spirit. Let it remind you that you have been entrusted with your calling, and the only permission that matters has already been granted by the One who created you.
This is more than a mindset shift. This is spiritual alignment. This is you choosing to partner with heaven instead of fear. And this is you, stepping boldly into your next chapter—not because someone said you could, but because you know God already did.
Create a Sacred Shift in Your Space
Now that you’ve given yourself permission and broken agreement with the lies that kept you small, it’s time to ground this shift in something tangible. I always say that spiritual clarity becomes even more powerful when we anchor it with a physical act of obedience or intention. So we’re going to do something simple, yet sacred, to mark this moment.
I call this practice the Candle of Clarity Activation, and it’s something you can return to whenever confusion creeps in or when you feel the need to reset and realign with God’s truth.
Here’s what you’ll need: one small candle—it could be a tea light, a jar candle, or even a scented candle you already love—and a quiet space where you can be still for at least five minutes.
When you’re ready, begin with Step One: Light the candle.
As you do, I want you to speak this prayer out loud:
“Lord, light up what’s been hidden in me. Illuminate what’s been unclear. Burn away the fear that’s kept me frozen. Show me where I’ve been asking for permission when You’ve already said, ‘Go.’ I release the need to explain and instead embrace Your invitation to obey.”
Take a deep breath. Let that light represent more than warmth or ambiance—let it symbolize divine clarity. Let it represent the fire of God, illuminating the places in your life where confusion, people-pleasing, or fear have tried to linger.
Next, move into Step Two: Sit in stillness.
Don’t rush. Don’t overthink. Just sit. Let the flame draw your focus back to the presence of God. As you breathe slowly, listen for what He brings to your heart. Maybe it’s a word. Maybe it’s a picture. Maybe it’s just a deep, settling peace. Whatever comes, receive it. The light is a reminder that you are never alone. The same God who leads you also lights the path ahead.
Then, Step Three: Speak one bold declaration aloud.
Let it come from your spirit. It could be a sentence from your permission slip. It could be a truth God has been whispering. It could be a new phrase that rises up right now. Say it out loud, with strength. Something like:
“I move forward in faith, not explanation.”
“God’s yes is enough for me.”
“I no longer need to be understood to be obedient.”
“I am led by light, not fear.”
Let your voice become an agreement with heaven. Your words matter. They shape the atmosphere around you and realign the posture of your heart.
Finally, Step Four: Blow out the candle.
But don’t see this as extinguishing something. See it as a sending. This is not the end—it’s a beginning. As the flame disappears, imagine the light now residing within you. You don’t need external clarity when the Spirit of God is illuminating you from the inside out.
Repeat this act anytime the pressure to explain or perform starts to return. Light the candle. Sit in stillness. Speak the truth. And move forward. Let it become a rhythm of remembrance—a sacred space where you remind yourself who you are and whose you are.
You don’t have to wait for anyone to release you into your next season.
God already has.
Now go walk in it—with clarity, courage, and conviction.
Faith-Based Affirmations
I move in obedience, not for applause, but from alignment.
I release the need to be understood in order to follow God.
My ‘yes’ is sacred—and it does not require explanation.
Reflection Questions
Where have I sought permission to do what God already gave me peace about?
What would it look like to act from obedience instead of overthinking?
Whose approval have I been unintentionally idolizing?
Prayer Targets
Holy Spirit, train my mind to find safety in Your voice, not people’s validation.
God, show me where I’ve made understanding a requirement for obedience.
Jesus, I surrender my fear of rejection in exchange for your peace.
Song of the Day
Let this song create space in your day for trust and peace. Play it while you’re working or sitting in stillness. Let it remind your spirit that even when no one sees the steps you’re taking, God is still moving—and so are you.
Let’s connect. Not just in the comments, not just with a double tap. I want to know what’s been on your heart. Let’s talk, dream out loud, pray if you need it, laugh if you feel like it, just real space for real conversation.
Listen to Meditation
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