January 25, 2025 Devo

I was talking to a couple of young men the other day about how to handle it when people say harsh, unfair, or untrue things about you. Stuff like that can sometimes hit you hard. It can leave you feeling insecure, inadequate, and incompetent. One of the things I told them is that, at the end of the day, the only opinions of you that matter are God’s and your own. If you can stand before God and look in the mirror with a clear conscience, then you have the vote of confidence that counts. Everyone else’s opinion of you is just noise.
I’m not saying that other people don’t sometimes have something to say worth listening to. Sometimes some people do. But I’ve discovered that EVERYONE has an opinion of me, and their opinion is simply based on their perspective and their interpretation of what they see, hear, or hear about what I do. Some people think I’m a saint. They’re only partly right. Some people think I’m a jerk. They, too, are only partly right. But NONE of them know my heart, my intentions, or the fullness of my story. Only God does. That makes God the only one worthy to judge me.
That’s what you hear from David in our passage today. Evil people are accusing him of being evil. They’re taking shots at his leadership, his character, and his faith. And David is doing his best not to get lost in it all. When things are going bad, it’s easy to say, “Maybe my enemies are right.” But in his sane moments, David knows that their accusations have no merit. So he calls upon God to be the judge of both his enemies and himself. After all, He’s the Only One who sees all and knows all. He is an Honest Judge.
So take a deep breath and look in the mirror. What are the things that others are saying that are causing you so much anxiety and shame? Is any of it true? If it is, then confess, repent of it, and make amends for it. If it’s not, then just call it what it is. Noise. Live your life by everyone else’s opinion, and your emotions and your life will bounce around like a pinball. Remind yourself today of the Only One you have to please. God. Because God alone is your judge. That’s God’s Word for you today.