Read Hosea 2:2-13

Chasing is exhausting.

Approval is one of the most powerful “lovers” in our culture. We curate our lives, manage impressions, measure reactions. We fear criticism. We crave affirmation.

But approval is unstable. It shifts quickly. It demands constant maintenance. When Israel chased after other sources of validation, they found emptiness. The lovers did not satisfy. The pursuit did not secure.

How much of your anxiety is rooted in perception? How often do you edit yourself to avoid rejection? When approval becomes ultimate, authenticity fades. We become fragmented—one version at church, another at work, another online. Lent invites us to step off the treadmill. God’s love is not earned through applause. It is not revoked by failure. It is not dependent on image.

You are already seen. You are already known. You are already loved. Returning to that truth requires surrender. It requires letting go of the need to impress.

The illusion says, “If they approve of you, you’re safe.” The gospel says, “Because I love you, you’re secure.” Which voice have you been listening to?

Reflection Questions:

• Whose approval shapes my decisions most?
• Where do I feel pressure to perform?
• How has chasing approval affected my peace?
• What would freedom from that pressure look like?

Journaling Prompt:

Write about a situation where you felt compelled to perform. What might it look like to act from security rather than striving?