Following Jesus is different.
The world has one way of doing things.
Jesus teaches another.
The world may tell us:
“Do whatever makes you happy.”
Jesus teaches us to ask what is right.
The world may say:
“If they hurt you, hurt them back.”
Jesus teaches forgiveness.
The world may say:
“Put yourself first every time.”
Jesus teaches us to love, serve, and care about others too.
The world may tell us success is about money, attention, popularity, and being noticed.
Jesus looks at the heart.
That is why following Him will not always look like what everybody else is doing.
And I am learning to be okay with that.
I do not want to follow something just because it is popular.
I do not want to change what I believe because the world says something different.
If I say I am following Jesus, then there should eventually be something about my life that shows I am going in a different direction.
Everybody Is Following Something
Think about it.
We are all influenced by something.
People.
Social media.
Culture.
Family.
Friends.
What we watch.
What we listen to.
What everybody around us believes.
If we are not careful, we can start following things without even realizing it.
Something becomes popular, and suddenly everybody is doing it.
Someone says:
“This is just how things are now.”
But just because something has become normal does not automatically mean it is right.
That is where I need God.
I do not want the world deciding everything for me.
I want God’s Word helping me decide how I live.
Following Jesus May Make You Look Different
There may be moments when you are the only person saying no.
Everybody else may be doing something, and you decide:
“That’s not for me.”
People may ask why.
They may think you are being difficult.
They may even laugh.
That does not mean you have to change.
If I believe something goes against the life I am trying to live with God, I need to stand on that.
I do not have to make a scene.
I do not have to judge everybody in the room.
I can simply make a different choice.
Following Jesus is personal.
I have to answer for my decisions.
The World Says Get Even—Jesus Teaches Forgiveness
This is one of the biggest differences.
When somebody hurts us, our first thought may be:
“They’re going to get back exactly what they gave me.”
That is how the world often thinks.
You embarrass me, I embarrass you.
You talk about me, I talk about you.
You stop speaking to me, I stop speaking to you.
But Jesus calls us higher than that.
Matthew 5:44 (KJV)
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you…”
That does not mean allowing people to mistreat you.
You can have boundaries.
You can create distance.
But your heart does not have to become hateful.
Following Jesus means I have to pay attention not only to what somebody did to me, but also to how I respond.
Following Jesus Doesn’t Mean Following Every Christian
This is something else I think we need to understand.
People can love God and still be wrong.
Pastors can make mistakes.
Leaders can make mistakes.
Friends in church can make mistakes.
I can make mistakes.
That is why my faith cannot depend completely on another person’s behavior.
Jesus is the example.
People can help us.
They can teach us.
Encourage us.
Pray for us.
But eventually I have to know God’s Word for myself.
If somebody tells me something that does not line up with Scripture, I need enough relationship with God to recognize that.
I follow Jesus.
Not personalities.
The World Measures Success Differently
The world often looks at what people have.
How much money?
How many followers?
What kind of car?
How large is the house?
How important is the title?
How many people know your name?
None of those things are automatically wrong.
But I do not want them becoming the way I measure whether my life matters.
God may call someone to do something that never makes them famous.
They may quietly serve people for years.
They may raise a family.
Encourage others.
Pray for people nobody else notices.
Help behind the scenes.
The world may never applaud them.
God still sees them.
Following Jesus teaches me that being faithful matters more than always being seen.
You Don’t Have to Prove Yourself to Everybody
The world can make us feel like we constantly need to prove something.
Prove that we are successful.
Prove that we are happy.
Prove that we have money.
Prove that our life is going well.
That sounds exhausting to me.
I do not need everybody convinced that my life is good.
God knows where I am.
I know what He is doing in me.
Some things do not need to be posted.
Some blessings can stay private.
Some growth can happen quietly.
I want to be more concerned about who I really am than what people think I am.
Jesus Teaches Us to Serve
The world may tell us to climb as high as possible so people can serve us.
Jesus showed something different.
He served people.
He cared about people others ignored.
He showed compassion.
He gave His time.
He did not need to constantly prove He was important.
Mark 10:45 (KJV)
“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister…”
That challenges me.
If I am becoming more like Christ, serving should not feel beneath me.
I should be willing to help.
Not for recognition.
Not so somebody can post about what I did.
Simply because helping someone is the right thing to do.
Following Jesus Changes How You Treat People
Anybody can be nice to someone nice to them.
The test comes when someone is difficult.
Someone who disagrees.
Someone who has disappointed you.
Someone who cannot do anything for you.
How do you treat them?
I want my relationship with God to show in those moments.
Not only when I am sitting in church.
Not only when I am praying.
Not only when everything is going well.
My faith should show up in how I speak.
How I respond.
How I treat the cashier.
The coworker.
The family member.
The stranger.
The person who irritated me.
That is where following Jesus becomes real life.
The World Says Rush—God May Say Wait
We live in a fast world.
Everything is now.
Instant answers.
Instant messages.
Instant purchases.
Instant decisions.
Then we bring that same mindset into our relationship with God.
“Lord, I prayed yesterday. What’s happening?”
Sometimes God says Wait.
The world may make us feel behind because something has not happened yet.
God may be saying:
“You’re not behind. You’re being prepared.”
Following Jesus means I cannot always move because everybody else is moving.
Sometimes I have to be still.
Sometimes I have to wait.
Sometimes I have to trust that God’s timing is better than pressure.
You May Lose Some Things When You Follow Jesus
This part is not always talked about.
Growth can cost you.
As you become serious about following God, some things may not fit anymore.
Some conversations.
Some habits.
Some places.
Maybe even some relationships.
That does not mean you suddenly think you are better than people.
It means your priorities changed.
There may be things you used to enjoy that no longer sit right with you.
That is growth.
We cannot ask God to change us and then become upset when change actually happens.
You Still Have to Be Yourself
Following Jesus does not mean everybody has to become the same person.
God gave us different personalities.
Some people are outgoing.
Others are quiet.
Some people are funny.
Others are serious.
Some teach.
Some serve.
Some create.
Some encourage.
Following Jesus does not erase who God made you.
It shapes who you are.
I can still be me.
I just want the best parts of me to become stronger and the unhealthy parts to keep changing.
The World Says Follow Your Feelings
Feelings matter.
But feelings are not always good leaders.
I can feel angry and still choose not to say something hurtful.
I can feel afraid and still move forward if God is telling me to move.
I can feel disappointed and still trust God.
I can feel like giving up and still decide to keep going.
Following Jesus teaches me that everything I feel does not have to control what I do.
I can acknowledge my emotions without letting them run my life.
You Will Not Get Everything Right
Following Jesus does not mean perfection.
I think that is important.
You are still going to make mistakes.
You may say something you regret.
Make the wrong decision.
Lose patience.
Get distracted.
The difference is that you should be willing to let God correct you.
When He shows you something, listen.
Apologize when necessary.
Make the change.
Keep growing.
I do not want to use:
“I’m only human”
as an excuse to never improve.
Yes, I am human.
And because I follow God, I want Him to keep working on me.
Don’t Judge Everyone Who Isn’t Where You Are
Following Jesus should make us more loving, not more arrogant.
Sometimes people grow spiritually and then start looking down on everybody who is not where they are.
We have to be careful.
You do not know where someone is in their journey.
Maybe they are just starting.
Maybe they are asking questions.
Maybe God is working on something in them you cannot see.
Tell the truth.
Stand on Scripture.
But do it with love.
Jesus did not call us to become rude while representing Him.
Following Jesus Requires Trust
Sometimes God’s way will not immediately make sense.
Forgive them?
Wait?
Walk away?
Say no?
Give?
Serve?
Be quiet?
We may ask:
“Lord, why do I need to do it this way?”
Sometimes we understand later.
Sometimes following Jesus means obeying before we have the full explanation.
That is trust.
I do not have to know everything God knows.
I need enough faith to believe He knows what He is doing.
The Difference Should Show in Private Too
Anybody can look faithful in public.
What happens when nobody is watching?
That matters.
How do I speak at home?
What do I watch?
What conversations do I entertain?
How do I treat family?
What do I do when I know nobody will find out?
That is where character lives.
I do not want to perform Christianity.
I want a real relationship with God.
If the only time I look like I follow Jesus is when other Christians are around, something needs to change.
People May Not Understand Your Choices
There will be times when people simply do not understand.
“Why don’t you do that anymore?”
“Why are you waiting?”
“Why don’t you just go along with everybody?”
You can explain if you want.
But you do not owe everybody a long explanation for every conviction you have.
Sometimes you can simply say:
“That’s not what I believe is right for me.”
Then keep moving.
People may disagree.
Let them.
You have to live with your choices.
Following Jesus Gives You a Different Foundation
The world changes.
What is popular today may be unpopular tomorrow.
Opinions change.
Trends change.
People change.
God’s truth gives me something stronger to stand on.
I do not want my values changing every time culture changes its mind.
I want to know what God says.
That requires reading His Word.
Prayer.
Learning.
Growing.
Asking questions.
I cannot follow someone I never spend time getting to know.
Final Thoughts: Choose Who You’re Following
At some point, all of us have to decide:
Who am I following?
The crowd?
People’s opinions?
Whatever is popular right now?
My own feelings?
Or Jesus?
Following Jesus will not always be the easiest choice.
Sometimes His way will challenge you.
Sometimes you will have to say no when everybody else says yes.
Sometimes you will forgive when people tell you to get even.
Sometimes you will wait when everybody tells you to rush.
Sometimes you will serve when nobody is watching.
Sometimes you will have to stand alone.
But I would rather follow Jesus and be different than follow the world somewhere God never wanted me to go.
That does not mean I think I am better than anyone.
I am still learning.
Still growing.
Still making mistakes.
Still asking God to work on me.
But I know who I want leading my life.
Jesus.
I want His wisdom.
His direction.
His correction.
His peace.
And if following Him means I do not always fit in, I am learning to be okay with that.
The world will continue changing.
Jesus does not.
So when I have to choose between what is popular and what I believe God is telling me is right, I want enough faith to choose Him.
Every time.
Scriptures
Matthew 5:44 (KJV) — “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you…”
Mark 10:45 (KJV) — “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister…”
Romans 12:2 (KJV) — “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
Reflection Questions
- Are there areas of my life where I am following what is popular instead of what I believe God is teaching me?
- Does the way I treat people show that I am trying to follow Jesus?
- What is one area where God may be asking me to live differently, even if other people do not understand?
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Help me follow You even when Your way is different from what the world tells me to do.
Give me wisdom to know what is right, courage to stand on it, and humility so I never think I am better than anyone else.
Let my faith show in the way I live, speak, love, forgive, serve, and make decisions.
Keep changing me so my life reflects more of You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
With Love,
Ty 🤍
Encouraged by Faith
About the Author
Hi, I’m Ty, founder of Encouraged by Faith. I share real-life encouragement, Scripture, and prayer about growing closer to God and learning how to live out our faith in everyday life. My prayer is that these messages encourage you to keep following Jesus, trust His direction, and stay grounded in who He is even when the world chooses a different path.