When ‘I’m Proud of You’ Isn’t Pure

The Healing Room Blog: “When ‘I’m Proud of You’ Isn’t Pure”

Not every “I’m proud of you” comes from love.

Some come late. Some come light. And some come layered in unspoken competition, guilt, or curiosity. When someone who never supported you suddenly praises your progress, it’s not always affirmation—it may be conviction in disguise.

There are moments in your journey when your fruit will speak so loudly that even those who never sowed into your soil will try to claim a part of your harvest. They’ll say, “I’m proud of you,” not because they lifted you, but because they can no longer ignore you.

But discern this:

When someone applauds with detachment, it may just be polite filler.
When someone praises you from a distance, it might carry a subtle tone of possession or superiority.
And when someone who once doubted you suddenly affirms you, it’s sometimes a veiled attempt to insert themselves into your testimony after the warfare has passed.

True support isn’t seasonal.

True love doesn’t wait for validation to cheer.

And authentic pride doesn’t carry the scent of control, competition, or regret.

Your obedience isn’t for their applause. It’s for God’s glory.

So take the compliment if it blesses you. But don’t bow to it.

And never shrink to make someone else’s pride feel more comfortable than your God-ordained becoming.