I was flipping through old journal entries and came across this from a while ago.
I can’t remember if there was something specific going on in my life, or if it was a general “write what’s on my mind” type of entry.
But after reading a couple of passages in 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel, and how David was always under pressure from the people around him, the journal entry fit in with my devotionals today.
Here’s what I wrote:

Here’s something that I know.
As long as I stay faithful to God, as long as I seek God’s way, as long as God’s will is mine, in the big picture of things, everything will be okay. I won’t be able to make everyone happy. People are going to complain. People are going to be mean. People are going to criticize. People are going to misunderstand your motives, your sayings… you. And there will just be people out there who flat out won’t like you. But if you spend your time trying to get them on your side, trying to please them, trying to make them happy, you’ll burn out. Fast. And your ministry will be more about you than God. The one thing they can’t ever take away from you is what God is doing through you. But if you stray from God, if you continue to seek to please others than God, you have nothing to stand upon. So stay grounded in prayer and grounded in God’s word. Go to God before you need to make a decision. Let God flow through your life, and let God run your life and your ministry. People will always throw rocks at you. Some will be the size of pebbles and some may leave a scar for the rest of your life. But God will continue to be your shield and try as they may, they will never be able to take that away from you. Just remember. It’s not about you. It’s not about them. It’s about God. And if you seek God’s will first, in the end, all will be okay. Remain faithful to God who is more faithful than you can imagine.