Stop comparing yourself

A couple weeks ago I was driving home listening to a podcast (like I always am) and I began to feel an overwhelming sadness take over. As I was listening to the podcast, I began self diagnosing. It wasn't a medical condition I was diagnosing myself with, it was different struggles that I don’t have but listening I thought, “Maybe I struggle with that, maybe that's what’s wrong with me.” I got home and found my husband working in the garage and just began to unload on him. I began to just spew all of these things that I thought were not only wrong with me, but wrong with our marriage. When I was done throwing up words he looked at me and I knew I had screwed up. I had just reacted out of my emotion and said a bunch of things that weren't even true. I had put labels on myself and our marriage that were never there. In that moment I had let my emotions run the show. 

I often let my emotions drive the bus while I’m in the back hanging on for dear life. Maybe you don't have this problem and to you I sound like a crazy person. Maybe you can relate all too well to my story. Whatever position you're in, I want you to know that comparison is the killer of joy. 

Comparison is so common in our world. It is something that has broken me down and that I’ve given power to. I’ve compared myself to other women on Instagram, I’ve compared my marriage to “perfect” ones I see on YouTube, and I’ve even compared my story to others.  

I’ve always felt uncomfortable sharing my story. I think “Well, I haven't gone through as much as they have so no one will think my testimony is entertaining or helpful.” THIS IS A LIE FROM SATAN. Our testimony is not supposed to entertain. It’s supposed to show people how great our God is! Our story has nothing to do with us and everything to do with the work Jesus has done in our lives. 

We are called to share our story no matter how big or small.

This post is really hard to write because it is something I have wrestled with God over. Comparison has killed my joy time and time again. It has robbed me of happiness and caused me to live in a state of discontentment. God has had to pull me back, hold me close, and remind me that it’s ok to be happy. 

It’s ok to be happy with the life God has given you. As Christians we often think being happy is shallow. We think that being joyful is the one that counts when God wants us to be both! It’s possible! We have everlasting joy because we have Jesus, but we also are allowed to be happy because of all that God has given us! 

If we live in a constant state of comparison we will never get to fully experience the happiness that comes along with loving Jesus. 

If comparison is something you struggle with I challenge you to get rid of your triggers. Delete the social media apps from your phone, unfollow that person, block them if you have to. You don’t have to settle with feeling less than. Take action and break free from the lies of the enemy. You are more than enough in the eyes of God. 

“Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.” Galatians 1:10