“The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” -Psalm 118:6
Criticism is something we all face. It doesn’t matter who you are—whether you’re a pastor, a teacher, a parent, a friend, or a follower of Jesus trying to live out your faith—there will always be voices that misunderstand, misjudge, or even try to tear you down.
We live in a world filled with noise—opinions, accusations, and misinformation. People say things online and in person that can sting deeply. Sometimes criticism can be helpful, revealing areas where we need to grow. But other times it’s unfair or untrue, designed to discourage and distract us.
The question is, how do we know which voices to listen to? I think the first step is to remember who we belong to. David declared with confidence, “The LORD is for me.” When we know God is for us, the opinions of others lose their power to define us. Because God’s truth about us is what matters most.
Jesus gives us the perfect example and Peter wrote about it in 1 Peter 2:23: “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly”. Jesus didn’t waste time defending Himself against every false word. He knew His Father saw the truth.
When criticism comes our way, we need to ask God for wisdom to discern what’s true. If there’s something we need to change, let His Spirit gently correct us. But if it’s just noise meant to discourage us, we need to release it to God and move forward in peace.
In Galatians 1:10 Paul reminds us, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ”. Our goal isn’t to please everyone—it’s to live faithfully before the One who knows our hearts.
That’s why it’s so important to fill your mind with God’s promises. Psalm 119:11 says: “I have hidden your word in my heart my heart that I might not sin against you.” The more we know God’s Word, the better we know His ways, and the easier it becomes to silence the wrong voices. His truth becomes our filter.
So I encourage us all to take a moment to reflect:
- Are there voices we’ve been listening to that don’t speak truth or life?
- Are we letting criticism shape our worth more than God’s promises do?
- Have we taken time to hear what God says about each of us?
I also want to encourage us to take time to write down a few scriptures that remind us of who we are in Christ. Here are a few to get us started:
- Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
- Psalm 139:14 – “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
- Romans 8:1 – “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
- 1 John 3:1 – “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”
- John 10:27 – “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
Let these truths from God’s Word drown out the lies. The Lord is for you. He knows you, loves you, and walks beside you. Does He have growth—and sometimes correction–in store for us? Sure, but it’s His loving-kindness that leads us to repentance. Keep your eyes on Him, trust His voice above all others, and continue to strive to live the life He’s called you to—with courage, grace, and peace.
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