Scared of Disappointing Your Parents? What Jesus Would Say

Hey, Carpool Crew. Have you ever made a choice that hurt someone that you really care about? Or maybe you've heard the words, 'I'm not mad, just disappointed.' I know I've heard those words before when I was a kid. I'm Pastor Justin, and I'm so glad you're here. This week we're jumping back into our October series of: what would Jesus say about the things that scare us? Today we're talking about the fear of disappointing our parents. We could also put our teachers in there. We could also put our best friends in there. We could also put our coach in there. That feeling of disappointment, that feeling can weigh so heavy on us, and there's a truth and hope in God's word that I want you to hear. I think Jesus would probably reference Matthew chapter 3, verse 17. This is what it says: 'This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.' Now, these words were spoken by God the Father about Jesus before Jesus did any miracles. So he hadn't healed anyone yet. He hadn't preached a single sermon, done a single Bible study, sung a single song. He hasn't been to anyone's house for dinner, and he definitely hasn't been on the cross yet. But God was saying, 'I love you. Not because of what you do, but because of who you are.' Now, that's what God says to you too. It's also what your parents think about you. It's what your teachers think, your coaches think. Your worth isn't based on your performance. You are already loved fully. Even when you mess up. Now, if Jesus saw you feeling bummed out, really sad because of disappointing someone, he might say, 'Listen, friend. You are loved, and I'm proud of you, and they're proud of you. And right now it's gonna be okay.' So let's just, for example, say you forgot to do all your chores. Maybe you did some talking back. Maybe you skipped practice and played video games with your friends. Maybe you just completely blew off your homework. Or you broke something on accident. I did that when I was a kid. I broke a big vase that was sitting in our living room. Man, I felt awful. And you might feel awful about the thing that you did. But instead of hiding in shame, which is what that disappointing feeling becomes, you remember that even though you made a mistake, even though you messed up, God still loves you. Your mom and dad still love you. Your teacher still wants you in their class, and your coach still wants you on the team. Here's how you can live this out today. First, say this to yourself: 'I'm loved even when I mess up.' The people around you, they do care about you. And guess what? We all mess up. We all make mistakes. Second, apologize and know that you're still valuable. Saying sorry shows humility. Saying 'I made a mistake. I'm sorry. I disappointed you' shows that you are growing up and growing up wise. Lastly, let God's love help you grow, not hide. Sometimes when we feel we've disappointed someone, we wanna hide. We wanna disappear and shrink back so no one sees us, 'cause we feel like everyone can see that we've disappointed someone. Don't hide. Use it as a chance to grow and get better. When it comes to your parents, when it comes to your teachers, your coaches, your best friends, and when it comes to God, his love and their love does not disappear when you make mistakes. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And parents, if you like today's episode, consider sharing it in a Facebook group or in a community page. Let other people around where you live know about Carpooling with Jesus. Before you go, let's answer this question together. What's something you've done that made you feel bad, but God reminded you that you are still loved? I'll see you tomorrow on Carpooling with Jesus.