Do you ever struggle with comparison?

Do you ever compare yourself with others and then let it impact how you feel about yourself?

I had the opportunity to speak to a group of mentor leaders. It was such an honor and a privilege. They received me and my message warmly, and I think we all thoroughly enjoyed the morning.

But I have to admit something. As I was sitting there waiting for my opportunity to share what the Lord had put on my heart for them, another speaker was speaking. As the speaker before me spoke, I listened to the words that were being given and I started comparing what the other speaker was sharing with the word I felt like the Lord had given me.

I don’t know if you ever do this, but I compared myself and my message to the speaker before me.

Comparison is the thief of joy

Comparison is the thief of joy. As I listened, I had many different thoughts run through my head. “What if this speaker is better than me?” “What if they don’t think I’m as good?” “What if the word I have for them doesn’t touch them as much?” “What if…?” “What if…?” What if…?”

I know better! I wrote in my book, “Hope Prevails: Insights From a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression ” about how comparison is the thief of joy.

As I sat there listening to the other speaker, I grew more and more insecure by the moment. I finally had to say, “Stop it! Just stop it! You both have equally important messages to give for such a time as this.”

We have an enemy who seeks to steal our joy, and one of the easiest ways for him to do that is through comparison. Comparison takes our focus off of God and puts our focus on other people or on ourselves.

Comparing yourself to others

When we start comparing ourselves to other people, we stop paying attention to what God is doing in us, and through us, and for us, and we focus on what God is doing in, and through, and for other people. Then we start feeling less important, less adequate, less worthy.

The key there is that we start feeling less than. Our feelings are strong and compelling, but our feelings often lie. In reality, our feelings are just the outward manifestation of the thoughts we believe.

We must stop letting comparison come in and steal our joy.

Jesus said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). So let’s rest in the joy that He has come to give us and stop letting comparison steal our joy.

I don’t know where you are tempted to compare, but remember, God divinely created you to be just as you are, where you are at this moment. No one can be a better you than YOU!

Because of Him, #PeacePrevails!

Hope-filled perspective: Don't let comparison steal your joy - Ch 5 Recover Your Joy

 

Do you ever struggle with comparison? Do you ever compare yourself with others and then let it impact how you feel about yourself?  How do you stop yourself?

 

Related Reading:

Comparison Lies

 

Comparison Lies by Dr. Michelle Bengtson. Have you ever fallen into the comparison trap? How do you defeat the negativity that sometimes swirls in your head discoloring your view of yourself and God? Have you asked what God has to say about you? You can defeat the lies of the enemy. Read on and I'll show you how. Christian Inspiration.

 

The Sting of Comparison: 8 Tips While Waiting for Your Special Order

 

 

 

Hope Prevails Book and Hope Prevails Bible Study {hope for overcoming depression}

Depression resources: Hope Prevails and Hope Prevails Bible Study

Available through book retailers!

Hope Prevails: Insights From a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression and the companion Hope Prevails Bible Study help the reader understand how depression comes to be, recover their joy, reclaim their peace, and re-establish their true identity, while knowing their worth, remembering their secure destiny, and being confident that nothing separates them from God’s love.

“Dr. Michelle Bengtson’s enlightening book, Hope Prevails, provides a master blueprint for overcoming negative thoughts and toxic emotions. Targeting a generation who feels lost and hopeless, this book provides meaningful help to everyone who has endured unexpected heartache, pain or trauma.

Hope Prevails offers effective answers on how to overcome loss and reach for a life brimming with peace, joy and limitless dreams. Reading this book will drastically improve your life.”

Tracey Mitchell TV Host, Preacher
Author, Downside Up11

 

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