S2 Ep 4: Nobody Ever Told Me That Always Saying Yes Was a Sin
Have you spent your whole life being the dependable one, the yes person, the one who holds it all together, only to find yourself completely exhausted and slowly disappearing? You are not alone. And in this episode, I am getting honest about exactly that.
We are diving into people-pleasing not as a personality quirk or a love language, but as a spiritual trap. Because when your identity is built on what everyone else thinks of you, you have quietly placed human approval above God’s truth. And friend, that is idolatry.
This one is for the woman who is tired of saying yes when every part of her is screaming no and is finally ready to let God tell her who she actually is.
**You may hear me refer to this as Episode 3 in the recording… real-life moment over here. This is Episode 4. Thank you for giving me grace as I show up imperfect but obedient.
In This Episode
* Why always saying yes is not just exhausting, it is a spiritual issue
* The lie underneath every people-pleasing pattern: my value depends on what others think of me
* How people-pleasing quietly replaces your identity in Christ with an identity built on performance
* Sarah’s story: what it looked like to be the good girl in every room, at work, at home, and in her faith
* The difference between serving from love and serving from fear
* How to begin living from the inside out instead of the outside in
* A prayer for the woman who has been performing for everyone except herself
Scriptures Referenced
“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.” - Galatians 1:10
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”- Romans 12:2
Key Takeaway
People-pleasing is not a personality trait. It is a spiritual trap.
When your eyes are constantly fixed on what everyone around you thinks, you are not looking at what God says. You are too busy managing everyone else’s perception to hear the One who actually knows you.
Your value was decided before you were born, by a God who looked at you and said she is mine, and she is enough. You do not need their approval, friend. You have God’s. And that was always the only one that mattered.
This Week’s Challenge
Truth without action stays in your head, and I want this to get all the way into your heart. Here are three things to carry into your week:
Notice the yes. Pay attention to every time you say yes to something. Not to judge yourself, but to get curious. Ask honestly: Did I say that from love and genuine desire or from fear of what would happen if I said no?
Practice the pause. The next time someone asks something of you, and you feel that familiar pull of obligation, stop before you answer. Give yourself permission to say: Let me get back to you on that. That pause is sacred. It is the space where you check in with God instead of reacting out of fear.
Speak one truth over yourself every morning. Before your feet hit the floor, say out loud: I am God’s daughter. My worth is not in what I do for others. I am enough right now, exactly as I am. Say it even if it does not feel true yet. Especially then.
This Week’s Journal Prompts
Grab your journal or even just your notes app and sit with these questions at your own pace. There is something powerful that happens when you get your thoughts out of your head and onto the page. God meets us in that quiet space.
1. Where in my life am I saying yes out of fear rather than love? Think about work, marriage, parenting, friendships, and even church commitments. What would change if I let myself be honest about this?
2. When I imagine saying no to someone, what is the feeling that rises up? What am I afraid will happen? Now ask yourself, is that fear rooted in truth, or in a lie I have believed for a long time?
3. Write down three things God says about me that have nothing to do with what I do for others. If you are not sure where to start, look up Psalm 139:14, Ephesians 1:4, and Zephaniah 3:17. Let those truths sit with you.
4. What would my life look like if I truly believed my worth came from God alone, not from being needed, not from being approved of, not from holding everything together? What would I do differently? What would I finally let go of?
There are no right or wrong answers here. This is just you and God, getting honest. And that is always the beginning of something beautiful.
Let’s Stay Connected
Did this episode speak to something you have been carrying? I would love to hear from you.
Find me on Instagram: @leapsoffaithwithsarah [https://www.instagram.com/leapsoffaithwithsarah/]
My inbox is always open, and I mean that. I would be honored to pray over whatever you are holding today.
If this episode blessed you, will you share it with a friend who needs to hear it? The woman in your life who is always saying yes. The one who is holding everything together for everyone else. She needs to know she is not alone.
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