BATTLING WITH COMPARISON

Daily we walk into battlefield of comparison. From perfect lives posed Instagram pictures to thoroughly worded Facebook posts, we seem to compare our worst moments to the apparent “perfect” moments of others. We contemplate what our friends and other women are doing through social media and underestimate all of the work God is doing in our hearts. Without being aware of it, we complain to God that He is doing more work in “her” life, and we oversee our own calling. Instead we dwell on what “she” is doing. With all of these distractions, we look at others stories God has written for “her” and lust over it more than what He is planning for ourselves.

While scrolling through social media the other day, I realized I had this mouse running on a wheel through my head while going through each post. “Wow, she is so creative – I wish I could think of that.” “Her wording to that post is spot-on!” “She lives the perfect life!” “Her family is so perfect.” The similar word in all of these complaints was “she/her.” My heart is fast to compare but even faster when I forgot my own calling. Social media is sometimes displayed in the wrong manner rather than hearing the lies in our head telling ourselves that I am not enough.

Trying to always be someone we weren’t created to be is like trying to fit a Christmas tree in its original box. The tree will never be able to fit perfectly in the box, as many times as you try. If I tried squeezing the tree into the box, I would make the box budge out and take away the perfect shape it was made to have. Trying to get the tree back into the box is pointless, just like we try to do when we envy to be “just like her.” God didn’t make us to be the same as the person living next to you. We are meant to be the image of God! He has imprinted His unique thumbprints on each of our lives with that one purpose. Trying to be someone else will never bring the grace and joy God created us to have within Jesus!

When looking at the different women in the Bible, you see a variety of women who had different personalities, purposes, passions, and callings. They all came from different backgrounds, lived in different environments, and God wrote those stories differently for each women. Just like with Eve, God created every woman on this Earth to be the reflection of His image and to live for his grace and glory. In Genesis 1, God finished painting the brushstrokes of His masterpiece by creating humanity. Genesis 5:1-2 “this is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.” The term “God created” means that we were created in His own image in the “likeness of God.” We are all shaped in God’s own image, but we are not all the same. We look upon our Creator by being that unique woman He created us to be.

A couple of weekends ago I went on a long run, since the weather in Texas was finally not scorching. I decided to take a different route than normal and realized there were acorns everywhere! As I walked around picking up the acorns, one thing came to mind – no acorn is the same. Some didn’t have the tops, some were more colorful, some were larger, and others were grouped together on one branch. These acorns made me think of how God created us with our own individual story to tell.

God used those acorns to remind me that I will never reach His purpose for my life when trying to be like women on social media. Jesus never said compare yourself to others, He wanted us to imitate Christ as who is our Savior (1 Corinthians 4:6). No one wants to miss there calling by trying to be like “she” rather than “He.” Our friends and peers are created with a purpose made by Him for His grace and glory. It will look completely different than the person sitting next to you, but as we follow Him faithfully and do what He has set for us to do, we will start seeing those comparisons being removed and start being cheerful for one another.

God has called each unique individual to do work for His kingdom. Just like I said above He has imprinted His unique thumbprints as a reflection on His dreams for you, your home and your work. As we are all women with passion, desire, and yearning, take a deep breath and remember that God has place for His glory in your heart. Try to not focus on the big things, be trusting in the smaller things He has placed right in front of you. You weren’t made to do what “she” does, but made to glorify Jesus in your own unique way.

Life is not “doing” for God or about becoming someone else… it’s about knowing Him and glorifying Him with our minds, bodies, and souls. It always seems better to look at what God has done for you yourself rather than what “she” is doing. Set your gaze upon Jesus Christ and be faithful to what He has called for you to do. We are all created to live for Him and to love one another.

“Turn your eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways” Proverbs 119:37.