Comparisons Stink

Each of you should use whatever gift

you have received to serve others,

as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

If anyone speaks, they should do so

as one who speaks the very words of God.

If anyone serves, they should do so

with the strength God provides,

so that in all things God may be praised

through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory

and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

(1 Peter 4:10 – 11)

Okay, can I just be brutally honest about something? Comparisons stink. They do.

Just when I think I’ve gotten to a good place in some area of my life, along comes someone or something else that’s better. And my confidence just shrinks back, takes the hand of doubt, and starts ransacking the peace right out of my heart and mind. Yes, there are Scriptures that can help with this. And yes, God can use it for good in my life. But honest to goodness, it’s hard on a girl’s heart.

Recently, I was put in a situation where something I feel very vulnerable about was held up to another person’s near perfection. I was on a beach vacation with several friends who have dancer’s legs. And by dancer, I mean like twenty-year-old, ballerina-perfection legs. I guess you could say I have dancer legs too if you are referring to the dancing hippo from Madagascar. I can eat healthy and exercise every bit as much as my ballerina friends, but long, lean legs just aren’t in my genetic makeup.

So there I was on the beach. My weakness standing beside their strength. My yuck placed next to their glory. And in the private space of my most inner thoughts, I cried. And even more than that, I found myself feeling defeated and convinced this area won’t ever be a strength of mine. I wasn’t designed for this to be my strength.

Oh, I can make progress, for sure. And heaven knows, I do work on it. And on my good days, I see how God is using this all for good. But when comparison sneaks in, it can be hard. Worse than hard. It can just quite simply make me forget all the strengths I do have. And when I forget, my hearts shifts. I stop being thankful and instead become consumed by that little thing I don’t have. What a dangerous place to be.

When I was struggling recently, I later realized I wasn’t prayed up. I had not asked God to help keep my focus on Him. I just found myself wallowing—and wallowing isn’t of the Lord. Amen? Amen!

I share this because you need to know—I struggle. Just like you. I’m on a journey of learning. Just like you. And I desperately need God’s truth to bump into my weaknesses every single day. Only then can I get out of the shadow of doubt and into the life-giving reality of who God has made me to be. And see it as good. Not perfect. Not even close. But good. And good is good.