Let God Lead Your Convictions, Not People

God has been dealing with me lately about something I didn’t expect: how I use my free will.

More specifically, how I allow the convictions of others to shape my decisions, even when those convictions weren’t placed on me by God.

When Convictions Get Confused With Control

A lot of the guilt and shame I’ve carried in the past didn’t come from disobeying God.
It came from trying to live up to manmade convictions that were never mine to carry.

Let me explain.

I have a friend who no longer listens to secular music.
She told me she feels convicted, like the lyrics and messages just don’t reflect who God is to her anymore. And I love that she’s responding to what God is showing her.

But I don’t share that conviction.
At least not in this season.

I still listen to secular music.
And I don’t feel convicted about it.
And that doesn’t make my walk with God any less real.

Conviction Is Personal, Not Performative

We all have unique relationships with Jesus.
And I truly believe that includes our personal convictions.

God knows exactly where each of us is spiritually.
He knows how to speak to us individually.
And for reasons far beyond our understanding, He reveals things to us at the exact right time.

Yet somehow, we’ve made it normal to take our convictions and project them onto everyone else, as if spiritual maturity means everyone will feel the same way about the same things.

But Romans 14 reminds us:

“Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don’t impose it on others. You’re fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you’re not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe – some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them – then you know you are out of line. If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong.
— Romans 14:22-23 (MSG)

🎥 Let’s Talk About It

In the video above, I go a little deeper into how this has shown up in my own walk, and how God is reminding me to be honest about where I am, not where someone else thinks I should be.

There’s freedom in letting God lead, and in trusting that his convictions come at the right time, for the right reason, in the right way.

🌱 Final Thoughts

So here’s what I’m learning:

• It’s okay to not share the same convictions as someone else.
• It’s okay to be honest about where you are spiritually.
• And it’s okay to let God work on you uniquely, just like he created you.

You don’t have to rush to match someone else’s pace.
You don’t have to prove your love for God by mimicking someone else’s journey.
Just stay honest. Stay open. Stay surrendered.

Because real growth happens when you’re following God, not people.