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!
Related Reading:
The Sting of Comparison: 8 Tips While Waiting for Your Special Order
Hope Prevails Book and Hope Prevails Bible Study {hope for overcoming depression}
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
Michelle, I have always loved this quote. We are at our worst when we compare ourselves to others. There will always be ways in which we don’t measure up in our own minds. God tells us that we are enough, just as we are. Wonderful reminder!
Yes, Laurie, once Christ died on the cross, it was finished: all need to try to measure up, to compare, to strive to be better. We are enough because He is enough in us.
Oh how I also know that comparison is a joy taker!! But yes I still get caught in that trap much more often than I should. I love “no one can be a better you!” thanks for the uplifting thoughts to think on, very timely for me 🙂 #teaandword
April, I think most of us can relate. Especially in this digital world…it puts everyone else’s highlight reels in our view, when we are living the backstage preparation. I’m so grateful though, to know that God loves each of us the same, and that Jesus came to die for all of us…so that right there levels the playing field.
These are great thoughts and so true. I think comparison is the thief of joy, but it’s also a thief of self. I think when we compare, we take away or ignore or even despise what’s beautiful and perfect IN US. So often we look at other people and think they are “better”–but why? Couldn’t a quiet, sincere, soft-spoken friend/speaker/leader be as powerful and life-changing as a bubbly, fun, loud one? God has given each of us gifts, and it never benefits or strengthens us to demean them. <3 Even though that's hard to remember sometimes. 😉
Jennifer, you make a really valid point: not only is comparison the thief of joy but it is also a thief of self. And you’re right, being bubbly, fun, and loud isn’t any better than being quiet, sincere, and soft-spoken, simply different. And God created us all to be unique and different from each other, but all in His likeness. What a boring world this would be if everyone was like me!
I have learned that Satan does not want us to be happy with ourself or our life. He wants us to compare ourselves with others so that he can convince us that we are not enough or who we really want to be. Oh, how we need Jesus! God tells us that we are wonderfully made by Him. He picked out every aspect of us specifically for us. How much more do we need? Thank you so much for sharing this!
Angela, I think you are right. Satan doesn’t want us to be happy with ourselves or our lives. And he certainly doesn’t want us filled with joy! But I want to only be concerned with what my Heavenly Father thinks, and mold my behavior and attitudes to the likeness of Christ.
Oh, how true this is. How I believe it. I teach it. And still I struggle. Thank you for the reminder, for sharpening iron, for spurring your sisters on.
Natalie, you’re in good company in that struggle. I think comparison is something that all of us have engaged in at some time or another. But when we realize how it steals our joy, I think we’re on the start of the path to freedom.
Thanks for visiting here! I hope we see you again real soon.