(8) The Hunger for Applause — And the Holiness of Sharing It
Litany of Humility, Line 3: “From the desire of being extolled, deliver me, Jesus.”
Let’s be honest:
We don’t just want to be noticed.
We want to be celebrated.
To be extolled is to be praised lavishly, publicly, and without hesitation. It’s the standing ovation. The glowing testimonial. The “You’re the best!” moment we didn’t even have to fish for.
And when we don’t get it?
We notice.
Maybe we don’t pout.
Maybe we don’t protest.
But we feel it in that tiny flicker of disappointment… that little ache of invisibility.
We think, Why her? Why now? Why not me?
🎖 What It Looks Like in Real Life
Let’s say someone compliments your coworker at the team meeting for pulling off a great project—but you were right there too, staying late, doing the grunt work. Not a word for you.
You smile. You clap. But it stings.
Or maybe you’ve been quietly serving your family for years—driving the long miles, making the sacrifices, doing the hard things no one sees. And then someone gushes to your sibling: “You’re the most amazing child ever.”
You freeze. Wait—what?
Suddenly you’re not just hurt. You’re erased.
And deep down, a little voice says,
“I wish they knew. I wish they saw. I wish someone would just say it…”
That’s the desire to be extolled.
It doesn’t make you bad. It makes you human.
But here’s what Jesus wants to do with that desire: not shame you for it—but set you free from it.
🤲 What We Really Want
Wanting to be extolled isn’t just about vanity. It’s about validation.
We want to be seen.
We want to matter.
We want someone to know how hard it’s been—and to say so out loud.
But here’s the twist:
When we crave praise from people, we forget we’ve already received honor from Heaven.
When we demand recognition from others, we often miss the gentle affirmation of God:
“I see you. I remember. I will repay.”
He is not unjust.
And He is not unaware.
🪞When You Could Have Shared the Spotlight
Sometimes, the ache comes not from being left out, but from seeing someone take it all.
You’ve probably witnessed it.
A person receives praise… and instead of spreading the credit around, they soak it up like a sponge.
They could’ve said,
“I didn’t do this alone—so-and-so really carried a heavy load.”
But they don’t.
They just nod. Smile. Let the applause keep rolling.
That’s not evil. But it’s not humility, either.
Humility shares the spotlight.
Pride clings to it.
When you’re in a position to receive praise—and you share it—you don’t lose anything.
In fact, you gain something greater: integrity, gratitude, and freedom.
💡 Why This Matters
If we’re going to pray, “From the desire of being extolled, deliver me, Jesus,”
then we need to be ready to surrender our need to be the favorite, the best, the one who got the credit.
It doesn’t mean we stop doing good.
It means we stop doing it for the praise.
We trade applause for joy.
Credit for quiet confidence.
Earthly recognition for a crown that never fades.
And when someone else gets extolled?
We bless them.
We release them.
We trust that the God who sees in secret will reward us in full.
Because He will.
He already is.
🚨 Litany Line in Real Life
Here’s how the desire to be extolled might sneak into your day:
You rehearse your part in a group effort just in case someone asks.
You subtly correct someone’s retelling of a story—so your role sounds bigger.
You scroll social media and feel bitter when someone else is celebrated.
You find it hard to clap for others because… no one’s clapped for you in a while.
You stew when someone else gets the “thank you” you never got.
These are warning lights, not verdicts.
You’re not a bad person—you’re a human one.
But Jesus wants to heal even that.
🕊 A Prayer to Enter In
Jesus, I bring you the part of me that aches to be seen, noticed, and praised.
You know how hard I’ve worked. You know how unseen it’s felt.
But I don’t want to chase applause anymore—I want You.
Deliver me from the desire of being extolled.
Give me the grace to serve quietly, love faithfully, and trust You fully.
You are the only audience that matters.
And Your “well done” is all I need.
Amen.
Hungry for more?
If you’d like to continue the conversation and grow in fellowship with other believers, come join us in the Facebook group! It’s a space for encouragement, honest discussion, and diving deeper into the topics we explore here. We’d love to have you!