06/04/2026
One of the unexpected blessings of committing your life to service is that you gradually become less vulnerable to the opinions of others. Not because criticism no longer exists, but because your identity is no longer rooted in applause. When your purpose is to serve, you stop measuring your worth by the volume of the crowd.
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 servant's focus is not on defending himself. His focus is on the assignment God has placed before him.
Believe it or not, people often ask how I remain calm when criticism comes my way. My simple answer is prayer and service. I have learned that it is difficult to be shaken by attacks when you spend more time on your knees than you do defending your reputation. The peace comes from knowing that God sees what others cannot see. He knows the conversations, the sacrifices, the burdens, and the work being done in places where there are no cameras and no applause.
Some have asked why I chose not to sign a petition. The answer is straightforward. I believe my responsibility as a leader is not only to speak publicly, but also to preserve my ability to work directly with those who have the power to influence outcomes. A petition can be a useful tool for expressing frustration and drawing attention to a problem, but a signature alone does not solve the problem. Neither do council ordinances, official letters, or public statements by themselves.
Real change requires the difficult work of building relationships, having honest conversations, and pursuing solutions that produce results. I chose a different path because I believed it would give me greater opportunity to advocate effectively behind the scenes rather than simply adding my name to a document.
At the same time, I believe keeping our neighborhoods safe requires more than policies and paperwork. It requires the firm and consistent rule of law. But it also requires something deeper, a community willing to extend love, accountability, and a welcoming spirit to those who want to become part of it. Security without compassion becomes cold. Compassion without accountability becomes chaos. Strong communities require both. They are built when people are willing to enforce standards while still seeing the humanity in one another.
A person truly committed to service becomes difficult to intimidate. You cannot embarrass someone who has already surrendered his pride. You cannot frighten someone whose goal is obedience rather than popularity. You cannot silence someone who understands that criticism is often the price of standing in the gap for others.
Moses endured criticism from the very people he was leading. Nehemiah faced opposition while rebuilding the wall. Jesus Himself was misunderstood, mocked, falsely accused, and ultimately crucified by many He came to save. None of them abandoned their assignment because of public opinion.
Nehemiah's response has always resonated with me: "I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down" (Nehemiah 6:3). He refused to be distracted by every accusation and every demand to explain himself. The work was too important.
That does not mean criticism never hurts. It means criticism no longer controls. When your heart is fixed on serving, you become willing to absorb frustration that was never yours to begin with. You become willing to stand as a verbal punching bag if it helps move the mission forward. Not because you enjoy it, but because you understand leadership is often the art of carrying burdens that others cannot see.
The world teaches us to defend ourselves. Christ teaches us to serve. The world says to retaliate. Christ says to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. The world says to protect your reputation at all costs. Christ says to lose your life in order to find it.
So I choose not to attack. I choose not to return insult for insult. I choose prayer over bitterness and service over self-preservation. Because at the end of the day, the opinions of people will rise and fall like the tide, but faithfulness endures.
As Paul wrote in Colossians 3:23, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."
That is the secret.
Stay bowed in prayer. Stay committed to serving. Let others debate your motives while you remain focused on your mission. God sees the work. And ultimately, His approval is the only one that matters.
