6 For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered for ever.
7 He is not afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
So, as I was scrolling through Linkedin and a quote just jumped out and grabbed me. It went something like this:
"Just such a solid rock is not shaken by the storm, even so the wise are not affected by praise or blame."
Whoa. It was like a sudden jolt of understanding.
Because let's be honest, that whole "unaffected by praise or blame" thing is about as achievable as telepoting to my next Mass.
My heart? It's more like a little sailboat on a very choppy sea. A bit of praise comes along, the sails fill, and I'm soaring! "Oh, they noticed! They approved! I must be doing something right!" Cue the happy dance, maybe a little internal pat on the back.
Then comes the blame. Wham! A rogue wave hits. The little sailboat is tossed about, taking on water. Doubt creeps in. "Am I really that bad? Did I mess everything up?" Suddenly, all that lovely praise feels like it was just a fleeting moment of sunshine before the downpour.
And the silence? The dreaded no reaction? That’s like a thick fog rolling in. You can’t see where you stand. Are they secretly fuming? Did I completely miss the mark? My mind races, usually conjuring up the worst-case scenario. It's almost easier to deal with outright criticism than that unsettling stillness. It makes you wonder, "Why is he not telling me?"
It's exhausting, this constant chasing of approval and fearing disapproval. Love it when we get praised, hate it when we get blamed, confused and scared when we get no reaction and often think it is the negative.
As I started writing my thoughts on this quote, a realization dawned. I've been such a fool, haven't I?
It is true. The wise aren't paralyzed by the fear of messing up. Instead, they are willing to learn from their mistakes. They see missteps as stepping stones, opportunities to grow closer to understanding God's will. They don't let the potential for failure keep them frozen.
And praise? Oh, how my heart used to puff up! But now I'm starting to see that when good things happen, when we receive accolades, it's not really about us. The wise are not swayed by praise. Instead, they recognize God's hand in it all and turn that praise into thanksgiving. "Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to be a vessel for this." It shifts the focus, doesn't it? From "Look at me!" to "Look at what God has done!"
And that silence… it strikes me now as the truest test of our faith. It's in that quiet space that the whispers of doubt and fear can become so loud, allowing darkness to take root. But what if we met that silence with deeper trust? To believe that God's light still guides us, even when unseen. It calls us to constant seeking, unwavering trust, and a commitment to doing our best with what we know to be true.
As Psalm 112 says
"For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD."
That "never be moved"… that's the solid rock! And the "heart is firm, trusting in the LORD"… that's the anchor that keeps us steady amidst the storms of opinion.
I recognize now how this constant swaying of my heart, this dependence on my fleeting feelings, has actually ruined so much of my joy and peace. I've been so busy trying to read the room, to decipher every glance and comment, that I've missed the steady, loving gaze of God.
The lesson, for me at least, is clear. I need to lean on God more. To do my best, with love and intention, and then to allow God to take care of the rest. To find my stability not in the shifting sands of human approval, but in the unshakeable foundation of His love.
It's a daily practice, I know. I'm not going to suddenly become a stoic saint overnight! But the awareness is the first step, right? To recognize the trap of seeking validation in all the wrong places and to turn, instead, to the One whose opinion truly matters.
What about you? Does this resonate with you? How do you navigate the ups and downs of praise and blame? Let's encourage each other on this journey towards a more God-centered peace.
Blessings,
Lean on God. Do the best and allow God to take care of the rest.
