Comparing Yourself To Others

by: Michael Woods | November 27, 2017

Comparing yourself to someone else. We’ve all done it. It happens in the blink of an eye. The temptation to compare yourself to others is as near as your next chat with a co-worker, or checking in with your friends on Facebook.

I think comparison boils down to the fact that, deep down, we’re all a bit insecure about our self-worth and so we look around us for a frame of reference to assess how well we’re doing—in work/salary, faith, parenting, money, looks, etc.

For me, I look at someone who never seems to worry about “having it all together,” and wish my life was that easy. I see a dad who’s able to afford to take his son to all the major sporting events and envy creeps into my heart.

The comparison trap was handcrafted by the enemy as a way to strip you of your self-worth and to build walls between you and other people.

We all know that there’s no such thing as the perfect person, right? So why do we often judge ourselves by a standard of “perfection” that we (think) we see in others. Because the longer we do, the longer we stay trapped. And the longer we try to keep up the façade of perfection in our own lives…the more anxious and depressed we become.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against resolving to change things that need to be changed.

But the ever-present nagging demands that you should:

• change your physical appearance
• keep a tidier house
• have more obedient children
• always have a smile on your face

is not God’s idea.

You…the unique person that you are…are God’s idea.

He created you just the way you are. He knows you inside and out (Ps.139:15).

From before the foundations of the earth, He knew you and He loved you (Jer.1:5).

Just as you are.  Imperfect. But created in His image.

He knew you would struggle, but it’s in your weakness, that you are made perfect (2Cor.12:9).

You are meant to walk in grace and in the freedom of who you are in Him.

So walk your walk with confidence in who God’s called you to be….it’s the only walk you were created for.

For me, I have finally realized what a toll my comparisons have taken on me, and I’ve been learning how to trust Him to release me from them.

How about you: What causes you stress because you feel like you never measure up?

Try this: make a list of those areas where you don’t feel as if you measure up. Then, cross each item out, one at a time, and whisper those life-giving words with me. “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Ps.139:14

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