Scared of Being Laughed At? What Jesus Would Say

Hey, Carpool Crew. Whether you're brushing your hair, zipping up your jacket, or halfway out the door, I'm Pastor Justin, and I'm so glad you're here. Let's talk about a fear that shows up in the school hallways, lunch tables, and even sometimes in the playground. What if I get laughed at? And it's not because you try to be funny, but because you did something embarrassing. I've done this a million times. Maybe you tripped, maybe you said something wrong. Or let's just say wore a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pajama top to school by accident. How do I know that happened? Because it happened to me, Pastor Justin. When I was in elementary school in Buffalo, New York, it was super cold. One winter morning, I rushed to get dressed. I threw on my jeans. I zipped up my big winter coat, and I ran out the door. But guess what? I forgot. I never took off my pajama top. And not just any pajama top. It was a bright green with Michelangelo and the Ninja Turtles in front. I didn't notice. My parents didn't notice. But when I got to school and took off my jacket, everyone else noticed. And yep, they laughed. For a minute, I wanted to hide. I felt my face turn red and my stomach drop. But then someone said, 'I mean, at least it's a cool turtle.' And then I laughed because it was funny. And also it wasn't the end of the world. Proverbs 11, verse 2 says this: 'When arrogance comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.' The book of Proverbs probably is familiar. We went through it in Proverbs for your school life all September. Go back and listen to some episodes. They were awesome. But Proverbs is filled with short, wise sayings, mostly written by King Solomon, who is known as one of the wisest people in the Bible. This verse reminds us that when we're too proud, we often fall harder. But when we're humble, we grow in wisdom. Why? Because humble people don't pretend to be perfect. They can laugh at themselves, learn from mistakes, and they don't let a little embarrassment ruin their day. If Jesus were sitting right next to you in the backseat and you told him, 'I'm afraid I might mess up and get laughed at,' I think he might smile gently and say, 'Everyone makes mistakes, even grownups. But your value isn't in always getting it right. It's in being someone who can grow, smile, and not take yourself too seriously. I'm not embarrassed by you, so you don't need to be embarrassed by you either.' So what can you do when you get laughed at? First, pause. Breathe. Laugh with them. If you can laugh at yourself, it takes the power out of the embarrassment. Don't fight it. Flip it. Second, remember, it's just one moment. That goofy outfit or silly mistake doesn't define who you are. Everyone forgets stuff. Everyone has oops moments. And last, be the kind of person who makes others feel safe. If someone else gets laughed at, don't jump in. Stand with them. That is humility and kindness in action. Just remember this truth: 'I don't have to be perfect. I can laugh, I can learn, and I can move on.' Being laughed at isn't fun. I know that. But it's not the end of the world. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is smile, shrug it off, and say, 'Yeah, that was kind of funny.' And that's not weakness, that's humility. And God loves to grow strong things in humble hearts. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And parents, if you love today's episode, consider sharing it on Instagram or giving us a follow. We would love to see a posted photo of you and your family enjoying the podcast. Before you go, let's answer this question together. Can you think of a time something embarrassing happened and now it's kind of funny? What did you learn from it? I'll see you tomorrow, subscribers, on Carpooling with Jesus.