We spend so much of our time building relationships, striving to please people and win their approval and respect. And yet, after all of our sincere, conscientious efforts, it takes only one unappreciative word from someone to ruin our sense of self-worth. Why is that? It is because we are living according to the lie that I must be approved by certain others to feel good about myself. But basing our self-worth on what we believe others think of us will cause us to become addicted to their approval. And this is dangerous. Our acceptance and worth are not dependent on others’ acceptance of us, even if they are fellow followers of Jesus! Whether they accept us or not, we are still deeply loved, completely forgiven, fully pleasing, totally accepted, and complete in Christ. And He alone is the final authority on our worth and acceptance.