Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
1 Corinthians 15:33
We spend a lot of our time worrying what people think about us.
Do they like us?
Do they want us around?
Are we interesting?
Peer pressure is not just something children and teenagers deal with. Everyday we are influenced by other people, in hopes of fitting in. But we can lose ourselves in the hopes of being what others want.
Spending time with the wrong people can hurt us in a few different ways. It can hurt our reputation, our health, and the way we view ourselves. Whether we’re smoking to fit in, or gossiping because everyone else does it, we can be influenced in a lot of ways by the people we surround ourselves with.
As children of God, we should remain true to ourselves and not fall into peer pressure. Don’t let yourself disappear.
[How can I be an influencer instead of the one influenced? Please share a comment! Ed.]
Great advice, Ethan. I do spend too much time worrying about what other people think of me. I should remember to focus on my identity as a child of my Heavenly Father instead. Thanks!
So very true Ethan! Daniel is our great example of standing firm when he was a teen and at age 80 when he was thrown in lions den. We all need to WALK OUR TALK.