Stop Comparing!

When was the last time you compared yourself to someone else? A co-worker? A friend? Someone on social media? What did you find? Were they ahead of you in some area of your life or not? Married? Kids? Wealthy? Fit? There are so many ways we compare ourselves to others. I know I have. And every time, it left me feeling inadequate in some way. I could do this differently or I could be better in this way. Not because I necessarily needed to be better, but because I didn’t feel as if I measured up. Their lives were so together. They were so perfect. 

The longer I’ve lived, the more I’ve learned. No one’s life is perfect. People show others what they want others to know. So those perfect pictures on Facebook or Instagram are the pictures chosen to share. They are not the full picture of the life behind the camera. No one shares the heated discussions or more unsavory parts of their life. It makes us feel better to share the good times, but not all times feel good. 

When we look at others and think their life is so much better than ours, we lose sight of our own. Our life shouldn’t look like anyone else’s, because we are not them. We need to remember we are all different and have different experiences. While we are focused on those differences, we are not making progress in our own lives. Comparing ourselves to others is a sure way to get distracted from the reason we were individually created. The Bible says our gifts will make room for us (Prov 18:16-17). If that’s true, and it is, that is where our focus should be. Utilizing our gifts for God’s glory that he blesses us and opens doors no man can shut (Rev 3:8). 

We have unique gifts and talents God will use to bless His church and to be glorified. Don’t waste time wishing life was different. Get up and walk according to God’s word so life will be different. Don’t allow others' good fortune to make you doubt God’s goodness to you. He is good (Mark 10:18) and He keeps His promises (Gen 46:27), but He fulfills them in His time, not ours. Just ask Noah and Abraham. Have faith and obey and watch God move – even in the little things (Heb 11:8-9).