Do you struggle with comparison? 🙋🏼♀️I do. Horribly.
Perhaps this post is more for me than for you, but I invite you to keep reading...
If we are all honest, we all compare...”She has more”, “He does better”...
Take heart with me, my friend, comparison is an age-old struggle, getting its start in the Garden of Eden, when Eve compared what she had to what she didn’t have and believed the lie that God was cheating her...
...when the Truth was, He was not. That is not in line with Who He says He is. God never cheats us of anything He knows is for our good, for His glory and for others’ good. Every single time.
So what drives you and I to compare?
That is a question I have been prayerfully asking myself lately. I, in turn, encourage you also to prayerfully ask yourself the same:
What is it that drives you to compare?
Now, be open and willing to hear the tender answer of Truth from the One who created you to be YOU. He designed you and me with purpose, on purpose.
Yes, comparison will always be a tension this side of Heaven. I don’t like that idea at all. I know what comparison does to my heart and mind and body. It’s yucky. It’s nothing shy of putrid. Honestly, comparison has been weighing me down these past few days.
I want to be rid of this nasty grip on me, don’t you?
We can. But it’s gonna take more power than we’ve got in ourselves. No amount of “positive thinking” will be enough to break the destructive-grip comparison holds on us.
But, because of Christ’s willingness to die in our place on that cross, He has given us His Divine power and Grace to say “no” to comparison and “yes” to living with joyful contentment in Him and His promises that allows us ecstatic expectation of His grace so we each may live aligned to our God-given design for greatest impact.
Right where we are, right who we are, right now.
As I serve others via my professionally-trained coaching, I not only explore alongside my client in going deep under the surface of their thoughts, we also explore and invite God’s Truth to speak into what we discover...
“Lord, what about him?”
Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” John 21:21-22 (NIV)
“The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.” Luke 8:38-39 (NIV)
What do these passages say to you in light of such comparison?
~~Now healed and a new man, the former demoniac is commissioned by Jesus, not to go with him as a disciple, but to be a witness where he lived.
Jesus has different ways for different believers to serve him.~~
What next step is God inviting you to take with Him to combat your natural bent to compare?
“For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
“We neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.” Ephesians 2:10 (MSG)
Because comparison will rear its ugly face now and again, and again, I ask my clients what they need to be aware of in their own lives so they can be ready to recognize, take captive these comparative thoughts, and make them obedient to Christ.
“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV)
Perhaps this is exactly what you needed to hear today. Perhaps this is exactly what you know someone else needs to hear. Oh, for the Grace God lavishes on us, if we would receive it and willingly take one step at a time to further live aligned to our God-given design for greatest joy and impact! Amen!
What support would be helpful for you to move forward in these Truths?
What is at stake for you if nothing changes?
It is not worth it to stay in the nasty rut of comparison that only steals, kills and destroys.
How about having someone devoted to helping you in this very thing?
Consider this invite from me:
Tami Thorsen about.me/tami.thorsen Certified ICF ACC Life-Coach | Head2Heart Onward “Helping you live aligned to your God-given design for greatest Gospel impact” www.head2heartonward.com