How People Pleasing Will Hurt You And Your Marriage and stop your ministry

Show notes

About This Episode Are you a people pleaser? People pleasing is a very common issue in many people's lives, including ours. Maybe we do it because we are insecure or fearful of what others think of us, or maybe we try to please people for selfish reasons. Whatever the reason, it is damaging and will hinder you from truly ministering to the people in your life. In this episode we discuss three reasons people are tempted to become people pleasers, where it comes from, how it hurts our marriages, and how it hurts our ministries, with honest stories from both of us and a look at what Galatians 1:10 and Matthew 6:1 say about living for God's approval.

About Aaron & Jennifer Smith Aaron and Jennifer Smith are the founders of Marriage After God and authors of Husband After God, Wife After God, and Marriage After God. Married since 2007 and raising six children in Bend, Oregon, they started Husband Revolution and Unveiled Wife to share what God was teaching them, not from a place of having it figured out, but as fellow travelers pointing couples back to Jesus.

In This Episode Three roots — Fear of rejection, pride and selfishness, and avoiding conflict. Jennifer's story — Nearly breaking up with Aaron to please her parents, and prepping him before social events. Aaron's story — How loving to feel needed can turn into people pleasing. A snare that never works — Why you can never fully satisfy everyone's expectations. Serving God, not man — What Galatians 1:10 says about whose approval we seek. Ministry and reward — Why doing good to be seen by others forfeits God's reward (Matthew 6:1).

Scripture Referenced Galatians 1:10 Matthew 6:1

Resources from This Episode Beating 50 Percent Take our 31-day marriage prayer challenge today and join the 1000's of couples who have done it. For more encouragement: Marriage After God Shop marriage resources: shop.marriageaftergod.com Check out our marriage resources! For wives: Unveiled Wife · Unveiled Wife on Facebook For husbands: Husband Revolution · Husband Revolution on Facebook Get our new book The Marriage Gift - 365 prayers for your marriage!

If this conversation encouraged you, please share it with a couple you love, and subscribe wherever you listen. Follow us on Instagram: Marriage After God · Unveiled Wife · Husband Revolution Want to go deeper? Become a patron and help us keep creating resources for marriages that pursue God together. Smith Family Resources, Inc © 2026

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