No Comparison!

It is a natural human thing to compare ourselves to others. Am I as pretty as she? As smart as he? You can substitute any attribute in there. We have all done it, but it can be deadly to our soul.

According to Oxford, to compare means to “estimate, measure, or note the similarity or dissimilarity between”. While that seems innocent enough, when you compare people, someone always comes up a winner and someone always comes up a loser.

I have three daughters. Each are unique and special in their own way. If I compare the three of them according to one attribute, one will shine more than the other two. But if I use a different attribute, a different one will shine. My point is, we as people are never one thing. We are complex and changing.

You can’t judge your insides by someone else’s outsides. Other people usually look like they have it all together. I see their outsides and they really look good compared to my insides. I know the turmoil inside of me when I am feeling “less than”. But it really is okay to need a lifeline, to need help. I think about a swimmer who needs help. Maybe they got out farther than they should have or maybe they had too much pizza before going out there or they are just plain tired. We don’t say, “Oh, you did this to yourself so you don’t deserve a life preserver.” No! We throw that life preserver out and pull them up into our boat and carry them back to shore. Be that nice to yourself. God doesn’t expect perfection and we shouldn’t either.

When we compare people, we are usually using it to define worth, whether that be ours or theirs. Worth cannot be determined in this way. We must change our mind and determine our worth based on what God says about us. If we base it on anything else, we will most likely come up short. For me, that constantly coming up short as I compared myself to others tore me down inside. It made me feel like I was worth nothing.

Recently when I was feeling very “less than” I came across Psalm 16 in the New Living Translation. Verses 5 and 8 really spoke to me: “Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.” I’m so thankful that He is with me and He doesn’t look down on me!

Everyone’s story is different. To compare my progress, as a Christian, as a mom, as a whatever, to yours is worse than trying to compare apples to oranges. It’s more like trying to compare a priceless work of art to a miniscule piece of rock. It would seem that the art would be far more worthy, but that piece of rock and many more with it is how we walk on the ground and not fall into a pit. It’s just not the same at all. Both are important in their own way.

You, too, are important in your own way. Don’t compare yourself to others. Ask God to show you who you are. Always strive to grow in Him. Be thankful and content with the journey. Our lives are not a destination we arrive to. Our lives are made up of a beautiful, sometimes crazy, journey that we are privileged to walk alongside the Creator of the Universe. Wow! That is pretty awesome!