A Prayer to Listen Only to God by Victoria Rielano, read by Lea Martin.

Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.

I've always cared about what other people think, from wondering how people would judge my

appearance or age, to being afraid to say no, there's always been this nagging feeling

of impending rejection.

As much as I'd try to fight it, I'd constantly find myself in situations I didn't want

to be in.

The fear of not wanting to upset anyone or be looked down on caused me to lack sound

judgment.

No matter how exhausted or irritated I may have been, I was the first to volunteer for help

to be present at functions and to say yes.

Although on the outside, this appeared to be an act of love toward others, it was truly

nothing more than my desire to be accepted.

My fear of what other people thought robbed me many years of joy and peace.

I'd become a slave to the sum of others' opinions.

I was willing to deny who God had called me to be in order to live up to other people's

perceptions.

This is a deadly trap that left me suicidal, depressed, and miserable.

And I'm convinced I'm not the only one in this predicament.

Yet, I'm comforted to know that Jesus spent his life on earth navigating the opinions

of others as well.

Many doubted that he was who he said he was.

...