How often do you catch yourself worrying about what people think of you?

If we’re honest, most of us live with a quiet awareness of other people’s opinions—what they might say, think, post, or whisper. And culturally, that pressure is only growing. Studies show that 62% of Americans fear being judged by others, and among Gen Z, that number rises to 82%. We live in a strange moment in history where we have more access to each other’s lives than ever before—and yet feel more anxious, insecure, and approval-hungry than ever.

The average person checks their phone nearly 100 times a day. Social platforms track how scrolling impacts self-esteem. Many people admit deleting posts that don’t get enough likes. And nothing makes us cringe quite like an old trend or post we once thought was cool.

Welcome to the age of FOPO—the Fear of People’s Opinions.

The Trap of Living for Approval

At first, worrying about what others think may seem harmless. But left unchecked, it can quietly shape the direction of our lives. It can warp how we see ourselves, silence our faith, and keep us from becoming who God created us to be.

Scripture speaks clearly to this struggle:

“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” — Proverbs 29:25

A snare is a trap. And when we give too much weight to people’s opinions, their words can become a barrier between what God says and how we live. Fixating on what people think about you is often the fastest way to forget what God says about you.

Many of us can point to a moment when a dream was dismissed, a calling was questioned, or faith was discouraged by someone else’s opinion. Sometimes it’s intentional. Often it’s not. But the result is the same—we stop believing, stop stepping out, and never see what God might have done.

The opposite of fearing people isn’t ignoring them—it’s trusting God. And trusting God doesn’t always make sense by human standards. God often calls us to do things people won’t understand or support.

So the question becomes: What are you measuring your life by—people’s opinions or God’s design?

When God’s Will Costs You Something

One of the clearest examples of this tension is found in the Christmas story through the life of Joseph.

Joseph was engaged to Mary in a culture where engagement was legally binding—ending it required divorce. When Mary became pregnant, Joseph faced an impossible situation. From a human perspective, none of it made sense. Even if he believed Mary, he knew others wouldn’t. Staying with her would cost him his reputation, relationships, livelihood, and future.

Joseph was torn between what was easy and what was right.

Scripture tells us he planned to divorce Mary quietly—to do the honorable thing while protecting his name. But then God intervened.

An angel appeared to Joseph and told him not to be afraid—to take Mary as his wife because the child she carried was from the Holy Spirit. In that moment, Joseph learned a life-changing truth:

Pleasing God often means disappointing people.

People may have questioned Joseph’s integrity, but God affirmed his calling. People focused on his reputation, but God focused on his obedience. And Joseph had to decide whose voice mattered more.

Living for God Instead of People

Joseph’s story teaches us how to live free from the fear of people.

First, if you aren’t willing to be criticized, you aren’t ready to be used by God.
Anything useful gets worn. Anything impactful takes some damage. The people who make the greatest difference often endure the greatest criticism. If you live for people’s applause, you’ll eventually be crushed by their criticism. But when you live for God’s approval, people’s opinions lose their power.

Second, God can use a difficult “yes” to make a big difference.
Joseph and Mary said yes to a plan that cost them personally—but changed the world eternally. True worship always involves sacrifice. If obedience costs nothing, it accomplishes nothing. A difficult yes may feel heavy in the moment, but God uses it to accomplish far more than we can imagine.

Finally, faith in God sets us free from the fear of people.
Fear of people traps us—shrinking our courage, silencing our calling, and stealing our joy. Freedom comes when we transfer our trust from people to God.

When we make people big and God small, fear grows. But when we magnify God, fear loses its grip.

Mary captured this truth in her song of worship when she said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” What you magnify becomes your master.

Evergreen Faith

Evergreen faith doesn’t mean life is easy. It means faith endures through rejection, misunderstanding, and hard seasons. It stays rooted when opinions shift and voices grow loud.

You may never know what God might set in motion through one act of obedience. One invitation. One step of faith. One difficult yes.

When you can’t please people, choose to trust God. His voice is steady. His promises are sure. And faith rooted in Him will remain green—even in the harshest seasons.