The Fine Print: Approval Rating
- Jun 16
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 19
Whose Opinion Matters?
Hey Friend, Let's Talk
To know me is to know I find joy in a good book. What about you — do you like to read? I’ll take that as a yes since you’re here, and honestly, thank you for taking the time to read this blog. I mean that. I appreciate you more than you know.
So I was reading Crash the Chatterbox one day, and the section about John the Baptist stopped me in my tracks. I want to share a bit of what I learned — and the revelation God gave me through it. Maybe you can relate, or maybe someone you know is in this exact place.
Have you ever felt like you gave your all — poured yourself out — and still found yourself sitting in silence, alone, wondering… was it even worth it?
John the Baptist!
Imagine this with me. John the Baptist — the wild preacher who called crowds to repentance in the wilderness — is now alone in a prison cell. Shackled. Forgotten by man. Questioning heaven.
This same John once thundered, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” But now?
He sends his disciples to ask Jesus a gut-wrenching question:
“Are You the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Matthew 11:3)
Can you feel that moment?
You went all in — followed God’s instructions for your ministry, your career, your relationships, your purpose — and now you’re staring at the walls of a situation that feels like a prison.
You’re asking: Did I miss it? Was it all in vain?
When Heaven Feels Silent
Let’s be clear: John didn’t ask that question because he lost faith in Jesus. He asked because he was human.
He was in a hard place, and hard places make us question what we once proclaimed with certainty.
But here’s what I love: Jesus didn’t rebuke the question. He didn’t dismiss John’s doubt.
Instead, He responded with fruit:
“Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” (Matthew 11:4-5)
That was the report. Not a yes. Not a no. Just evidence.
But then… once John’s disciples walked away, Jesus turned to the crowd and said:
“Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist.” (Matthew 11:11)
Did you catch that?
John didn’t hear Jesus affirm him.
Jesus waited until John’s disciples had left — and then He honored John in his absence.
Whose Voice Is the Loudest?
Whew. That part hit me deep.
I was sitting there with that book in my lap — Crash the Chatterbox — and out of nowhere, this question rose in my heart like a whisper through the noise:
“Lord… what’s Your approval rating of me?”
Oh, Abba, how I love You. I want to hear Your voice above all others. If You’re pleased with me — that’s more than enough.
Now don’t get me wrong — I’m not out here craving the approval of others anymore. And I thank God for the deliverance from people-pleasing! 🙌🏾 But in that moment, I wasn’t asking from insecurity. I was longing to hear my Father’s voice. I just wanted my Dad to say something.
But if you are someone still wrestling with people-pleasing — let me tell you, freedom is possible. And I’m living proof.
You may be wondering, “How do I get free?”
Here’s what helped me:
Repent. Ask God to forgive you for placing the opinions of others above His word.
“You shall have no other gods before Me.” –
Exodus 20:3 People-pleasing is idolatry dressed in politeness. Let’s tear that down.
Remind the enemy who you belong to. You are under a new covenant — and every charge against you has been dismissed.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” –
Romans 8:1
Renew your mind. This is where the real shift begins. You can choose a new way of thinking.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” – Romans 12:2
👏🏾 Congrats, friend. That’s the first step. You just chose freedom.
Now, back to where we started. Sometimes, it’s not about affirmation from the crowd. It’s about nearness to the Father. I love Jesus so much, and some days, I just want to be closer than I was the day before.
And guess what? We can ask Him to be near.
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” – James 4:8
But what if… what if God is already speaking well of me in places I can’t hear? What if He’s already pleased — even in a season that feels like silence?
John didn’t hear the applause. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t happening.
Unlikely Examples of Quiet Approval
Let’s take a walk through some lesser-known moments in Scripture — moments that didn’t get standing ovations, but had heaven’s full attention:
Micaiah – The Lonely Truth Teller
📖 1 Kings 22:13-14
“But Micaiah said, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.’”
Everyone else was prophesying victory to King Ahab — saying what sounded good. But Micaiah stood alone and told the truth. For that, he was slapped, imprisoned, and fed scraps.
No applause. No reward. But guess whose words came to pass? His.
Sometimes the truth isn’t celebrated — but it’s still truth.
Huldah – The Hidden Prophetess
📖 2 Kings 22:15-16
“She said to them, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says…’”
When King Josiah needed a word from the Lord, he didn’t hear from Jeremiah or Zephaniah. He heard from a woman named Huldah — tucked away in Jerusalem. She wasn’t famous, but she was faithful. She spoke a hard word that led to national repentance.
No stage. No spotlight. Just obedience.
Jael – The Unexpected Warrior
📖 Judges 4:21
“But Jael… picked up a tent peg and a hammer… and drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.”
Jael wasn’t trained for battle. She was a tent-dweller, a homemaker. But when the enemy ran into her tent — she didn’t flinch. She did what needed to be done with what she had.
No one cheered at first — but later, the Bible says Israel sang about her bravery (Judges 5:24–27).
Where Are You Looking for Affirmation?
So, friend… what about you?
Are you sitting in a place like John — wondering where the fruit of your obedience is? Are you like Micaiah — speaking truth that no one seems to want? Like Huldah — unseen but still speaking God's word? Like Jael — doing what needs to be done in the quiet place?
If you see yourself in any of these stories, I want to remind you:
God sees you. God affirms you. God is speaking over you — even when it’s silent in the natural.
You may feel like you're in a prison, but don’t confuse obscurity with disapproval.
Heaven has a different lens.
Lord,
Thank you for your love. Thank you for being faithful. I believe your word is true. Silence the chatter of doubt and lift my eyes to see what You see.
When I feel overlooked, remind me that You’re always watching. When I feel unheard, remind me that You’re speaking over me in rooms I’ll never enter.
And when I feel like giving up, give me strength to stay faithful —because You’ve already said, “Well done.”
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Conclusion: What Heaven Says About You
Next time you find yourself wondering if anyone sees, hears, or cares — remember John.
He never heard Jesus speak those honoring words… but Jesus said them anyway.
The real question isn’t, “What’s my approval rating?” It’s, “Whose approval am I living for?”
And if it’s God’s —you already have it!
