Fear of Man vs Fear of God
“The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.” – Psalm 27:1–3 (NLT)
The truth is, man can do a lot to us.
I can’t count the number of times someone has come to me asking, “Aaron, what’s the right thing to do?” I’ve asked the same question myself countless times. But I eventually realized the issue wasn’t usually knowing the right thing. It was being afraid of what it might cost. What would people think if I did it? What would they say about me?
That’s where we have to pause and ask: Am I more fearful of God or of man?
When the Bible talks about the “fear of the Lord,” it doesn’t just mean reverence, honor, and awe. It also means a real, weighty fear that places God’s voice above every other. His opinion above all opinions. His will above all wills.
If my fear of man outweighs my fear of God, I don’t have to wonder who’s sitting on the throne of my heart. I’ve already given it away. One of the clearest ways to see what’s on that throne is by asking: Where do I find my security? If it’s in money, approval, or reputation, then man, not God, is ruling my heart.
Another clue is FOMO: fear of missing out. For a long time, my life, schedule, and priorities were dictated by people’s expectations instead of obedience to God. I thought I was being ambitious, but really I was restless. I’m at my best not when I’m ambitious, but when I’m obedient. When I’m more concerned with what He says than what others think.
It’s not easy. In our culture, what someone posts on social media often feels louder than how they actually live in real life. But I’ve made the decision: I’d rather be known well than well-known. I’d rather say no to FOMO and live with joy and peace than chase approval and live exhausted.
To get there, I had to silence outside voices until God’s became the loudest. I had to let the people He placed in my life, the ones who ground me in truth, speak louder than the noise of the crowd.
FOMO is real, but underneath it I found an even deeper issue: people had taken the throne of my heart instead of God. Following Jesus will cost you something. But the cost is worth it, because when God is the One on the throne, you discover what real security feels like.
Prayer of Surrender | Lord, You are my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? Forgive me for the times I have let the opinions of others, the need for approval, or the fear of missing out sit on the throne of my heart. Today, I choose to silence every other voice until Yours is the loudest. Teach me to walk in obedience, not ambition. Help me to trust that what You ask of me is always better than what people expect of me. May my confidence rest in You alone, for where You are, I am truly secure. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The truth is, man can do a lot to us.
I can’t count the number of times someone has come to me asking, “Aaron, what’s the right thing to do?” I’ve asked the same question myself countless times. But I eventually realized the issue wasn’t usually knowing the right thing. It was being afraid of what it might cost. What would people think if I did it? What would they say about me?
That’s where we have to pause and ask: Am I more fearful of God or of man?
When the Bible talks about the “fear of the Lord,” it doesn’t just mean reverence, honor, and awe. It also means a real, weighty fear that places God’s voice above every other. His opinion above all opinions. His will above all wills.
If my fear of man outweighs my fear of God, I don’t have to wonder who’s sitting on the throne of my heart. I’ve already given it away. One of the clearest ways to see what’s on that throne is by asking: Where do I find my security? If it’s in money, approval, or reputation, then man, not God, is ruling my heart.
Another clue is FOMO: fear of missing out. For a long time, my life, schedule, and priorities were dictated by people’s expectations instead of obedience to God. I thought I was being ambitious, but really I was restless. I’m at my best not when I’m ambitious, but when I’m obedient. When I’m more concerned with what He says than what others think.
It’s not easy. In our culture, what someone posts on social media often feels louder than how they actually live in real life. But I’ve made the decision: I’d rather be known well than well-known. I’d rather say no to FOMO and live with joy and peace than chase approval and live exhausted.
To get there, I had to silence outside voices until God’s became the loudest. I had to let the people He placed in my life, the ones who ground me in truth, speak louder than the noise of the crowd.
FOMO is real, but underneath it I found an even deeper issue: people had taken the throne of my heart instead of God. Following Jesus will cost you something. But the cost is worth it, because when God is the One on the throne, you discover what real security feels like.
Prayer of Surrender | Lord, You are my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? Forgive me for the times I have let the opinions of others, the need for approval, or the fear of missing out sit on the throne of my heart. Today, I choose to silence every other voice until Yours is the loudest. Teach me to walk in obedience, not ambition. Help me to trust that what You ask of me is always better than what people expect of me. May my confidence rest in You alone, for where You are, I am truly secure. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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