Comparison Is Crippling

We all do it...and those who do not, have either had YEARS of solid discipline in it, or truly are not human! We compare ourselves to the neighbor next door--how their lawn looks compared to ours, how their children are dressed compared to ours, how nice their car is compared to ours. We compare ourselves to other parents--how well they handle their hectic schedule, how orderly and nutritious they pack their child's lunches, how spotless their house always seems, how calm they appear when their children act out. We compare ourselves to significant others' past relationships--how pretty they are compared to us, how nice of a figure they have compared to us, how much more popular they are than us, how much more our significant others must have liked being with them over us. We compare ourselves to the careers and successes of others--how much money they make compared to us, how they have been able to be so financially stable compared to us, how they are able to do what they really want compared to us doing what we really have to, how they seem to get all the breaks in life, or how they get to stay home and be taken care of compared to us having to work three jobs and not have that "luxury".


But this type of behavior is not only dangerous to our self-esteem and self-worth, it is also crippling to our relationship with Christ. We were each made exactly he way we are for a reason. We each have every scar, struggle, and life path we do for a reason...God makes no mistakes, and does not allow anything that does not help us to grow and work towards a better life in some way.


Ezekiel 16:13 states: "So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothes were of fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was honey, olive oil and the finest flour. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen."


We are all beautiful, we are all queens in God's eyes. We need not want what others have, or compare ourselves to the live they have versus ours. We do not know what goes on behind the closed doors of another person's life. They may have unimaginable struggles...and wish in turn that they were you or had your life! You cannot compare your inside, with what you see on someone else's outside. It is not fair to you, or to them.


Galatians 6:4-5 goes further to state: "Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load."


We are each meant to be exactly who we are. We are designed to have drive to always be better and do better...but be better and do better for ourselves, not to try to measure up with others. Embrace your love from The Father, and He will remind you daily of how perfect and wonderful you already are to Him. He does not want you to be like anyone else...that is why He has created you the EXACT way He has. Be the best YOU that you can be...it's enough for the Creator of the Universe...shouldn't it be enough for you?