ADDICTION: THE SILENT ENSLAVEMENT OF APPROVAL

 

ADDICTION  is not always about substances; sometimes, it is the subtle hunger of the soul for VALIDATION. One of the most overlooked yet deeply damaging forms of addiction is approval addiction—the constant need to be accepted, affirmed, and applauded by others to feel worthy or secure.

At its root, approval addiction stems from an identity crisis. When we lose sight of who we are in Christ, we begin to seek our value in the opinions of others. We become slaves to their praise and prisoners to their silence. We tailor our words, actions, and even convictions just to fit into molds God never shaped for us. The addiction grows silently—fed by likes, comments, applause, and the fear of rejection.

Yet, Scripture reminds us in Galatians 1:10: “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?... If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” The cure to approval addiction isn’t more acceptance from men but a deeper acceptance of God’s truth about us.

Breaking free from this addiction begins with a heart shift—choosing God's "well done" over the world's "well liked." The freedom we long for is found not in meeting people’s expectations, but in resting in the identity, love, and purpose given to us by our Creator.

THE COST OF APPROVAL ADDICTION :

Think about a teenager who constantly refreshes social media accounts to check how many likes her picture has. If the likes are many, she feels beautiful and confident. If they are few, she feels worthless. Her worth is now tied to a button click.

Or picture an employee in the office who never says “no” to extra work, not because he wants to serve, but because he fears being disliked. At the end of the day, he is drained, resentful, and empty inside.

Approval addiction robs us of PEACE COURAGE, and AUTHENTICITY. It makes us wear masks we were never designed to wear. As Proverbs 29:25 warns, “The fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.”

APPROVAL IS A MOVING TARGET

Have you noticed how celebrities live under constant pressure? One mistake and the same fans who adored them yesterday will “cancel” them today. The applause of the crowd is fickle.

In the same way, Jesus’ journey shows us the danger of crowd-pleasing. The people who cried “Hosanna!” in Matthew 21 were the same ones shouting “Crucify Him!” in Matthew 27. If Jesus, the Son of God, was not safe in the hands of human approval, why should we anchor our worth there?


FREEDOM THROUGH FAITH:

Imagine a student who struggles with low self-esteem until she discovers Ephesians 1:6: “He has made us accepted in the Beloved.” Suddenly, she realizes she doesn’t need to earn her acceptance—it’s already given in Christ. She starts walking into class with confidence, not arrogance, but assurance.

This is the power of faith: it shifts your foundation from people’s UNSTABLE OPINIONS  to GOD’S  UNCHANGING TRUTH. Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 15:10, “By the grace of God I am what I am…” and that became his anchor against criticism and comparison.

PRACTICAL STEPS TO OVERCOME APPROVAL ADDICTION :

• Renew Your Mind Daily – Just like recharging your phone daily, you must recharge your soul with God’s truth (Romans 12:2). Without it, the world’s voices will drain you.

• Check Your Motives – Before posting on social media or making a decision, ask: “Am I doing this to glorify God or to impress people?” That little check can expose approval addiction.

• Embrace Rejection as Redirection – Think of Joseph. His brothers rejected him, but that rejection redirected him to Egypt, where he fulfilled his destiny (Genesis 50:20). Sometimes man’s “no” is God’s “yes.”

• Surround Yourself with Truth-Tellers – A true friend is not the one who always claps for you, but the one who reminds you of God’s truth even when it hurts.

• Practice Saying No – Jesus Himself said “no” to the devil’s temptations (Matthew 4). Saying “no” to men doesn’t make you less loving; it keeps you aligned with God’s will.

CONCLUSION

Approval addiction is real, but it doesn’t have to define you. The cure is not in collecting more likes, applause, or validation—it is in resting in God’s already-given approval.

So when you’re tempted to compromise just to win approval, remember this: God’s “well done” is eternal, while man’s “well liked” is temporary. Choose wisely.