There was this man, he and his small son were taking a trip into the market. They started the journey with the man letting his small son ride the donkey while he was walking along side. Someone passed by and said, “Look at that selfish little boy, making that old man walk.” So the man took the boy off the donkey, put him on the ground and he got on the donkey. And now the boy was walking alongside. Somebody passed by and said,” Look at that man, making that little boy walk while he rides.” The man picked up the boy again and put him on the donkey with him. After several minutes, someone again passed by and said, ” How cruel of the two of you for overloading the donkey.” By the time they got to town, the man and the boy were carrying the donkey. “That is a lesson for you.”, said an old man who had followed them. “You cannot please everyone.”

Everybody has a right to express their opinion. These days with social media, it is easier to express than ever. People will tell you what to eat, what to wear, how to raise your children, what to drive etc. They are quick to tell you how to run your life. But sometimes they cannot even run their own life. Everybody has the right to have their opinion. But you have the right not to take it. It is good to heed an advise, to listen to a wise counsel but nobody can hear what your heart is telling you. Nobody can hear what you hear on the inside of yourself except you. Other people may mean well but they do not know  exactly those desires God has put in your heart. They are not aware of your calling, your dreams and your gifts.

No matter what you do, you cannot make everyone happy. No matter what you do there will always be someone who is not going to understand. Accept that fact. Quit trying to convince someone to understand you that’s determined to misunderstand you. Some people just don’t want to be on your team, and that is okay. You do not need them to fulfill your God-given destiny.

Pursue what God has put into your heart. You were not created to be controlled by people’s opinion of you. God himself gave us free-will so we may be able to decide for ourselves. It is better to disappoint a few people than to disappoint God. For when you come to the end of life, you won’t give an account to people of what you did with your life, with your time here on earth, of what you did with your talents and skills. You will give an account to God.

Romans 13:8 says, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (NKJV) The only thing which you really owe people is to love them as God loves them. You do not have to carry a debt which you do not owe, you do not have to keep everyone happy. Do not go through this life trying to please everyone. If you want to be happy, stop trying to make everyone happy. Quit being a people-pleaser. It is very freeing and refreshing when you realize you are not responsible to keep other people happy. They are responsible for their own happiness and you are responsible for your own.

Living by the opinion of others will never allow you to become who God created you to be. If you want to reach your fullest potential and be what God wants you to be you’ve got to be bold and you’ve got to be wiser. Do not let people keep you in their own box, in who they want you to be. Let God help you to be what He wants you to be.

It is time to put the “donkey” down and start being the “true you”. Start running your own life through the help of God. Seek His guidance and do not rely on people’s opinion and so-called advice. Always pray for Godly wisdom and discernment and you will fulfill your God-given destiny. “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” – Proverbs 2:6