By Gavin Boyle
Whether or not we live life in the spotlight, HGTV star Jenny Marrs wants us to remember to keep our focus on God rather than on how other people respond to our decisions.
“A lot of those things we’re uncomfortable with, it’s because we’re thinking: How are people going to perceive this? How am I going to be judged? What are people gonna think? It’s all about people and me, not about ‘How can God use it?’” Marrs explained on Instagram. “And so, that’s where those insecurities and fears and doubts, they all come from thinking about the audience, instead of the one audience which we should only focus on.”
“That sounds easy to shift your focus, but it’s not easy. It’s really hard when you’re stepping into something and you’re putting yourself out there…” she continued. “If you’re going to do it, you have to go into it with the mindset of not worrying about the audience of people. He’s the only one who matters.”
Having lived a life in the spotlight for many years now, Marrs is no stranger to criticism from the masses. However, because of this, she also understands why it is so important to let God’s voice speak louder in her life than anyone else.
At the beginning of 2024, for example, she shared a Bible verse that encourages her when she faces opposition.
1 Samuel 10:27 reads, “But some scoundrels said, ‘How can this fellow save us?’ They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.
“See why it’s often overlooked?” Jenny Marrs wrote about the verse. “Not exactly cheery or encouraging. BUT, when you look closer, I think we all need to be more like Saul. My notes say: Don’t spend valuable time and energy worrying about those who may oppose you…we can accept permission from Saul to simply IGNORE THEM.”
In a world focused on social media and public perception, this is a reminder that everyone can benefit from, especially young people whose high rates of depression and anxiety are largely linked to their comparison with others.
“I feel like one of the things that we’re fighting right now is comparison,” former NFL star Tim Tebow said in 2024. “Literally, another study came out that said 12% of our daily thoughts are spent on some form of comparison. When you are spending your life comparing yourself against other people, what you’re really saying is, ‘God, I’m not happy, I’m not grateful, I’m not content with where you put me and I need to be like somebody else.’”
While there are many benefits to keeping our eyes on the Lord, the peace we find in Him is one that everybody needs today. In a world filled with stress and anxiety, rest in the Lord and live for Him, rather than for the approval of others.
Read Next: Candace Cameron Bure Reveals How to Combat Comparison
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