This is one of those posts I didn’t necessarily want to write. In fact, the Lord and I had a little chat while I was on the treadmill at the gym. He told me to write about comparison. I told Him I didn’t want to. He said I needed to. I told Him it would be too embarrassing. He told me He wasn’t asking me to embarrass myself, but reminded me when we started this blog, we promised to be real. So, here we are. Writing about the destructive and distracting power of comparison.
I struggle with comparison. I consider myself a confident person in most areas of my life. But my physical appearance has always been a struggle for me. I grew up in a time when the only good silhouette was a skinny one. Different body types were not as accepted as they are today. I’ve always battled with feeling like I am not thin enough. My hips were made for birthing! My thighs always felt huge. And my once flat stomach now looks like a rolling hill. Even though I go to the gym regularly and am stronger and more fit than I’ve probably ever been, I still compare myself to others.
I warm up with 25 minutes on the treadmill before my circuit training. I find myself wondering if the person next to me is walking faster than I am. Is their incline higher? Is the person working with my trainer before me doing better than I will? Is she lifting more weight? Has she had better results? Do people think I shouldn’t be wearing spandex? Seriously. I’ve actually had that thought. The truth of the matter is, no one really cares what I’m wearing because they just want to complete their workout in peace. The only person judging me, is me.
The enemy knows my insecurities. And he is fully happy to exploit them to separate me from the truth of my completeness in Jesus. If the enemy can make me question my worth – whether it be physical appearance, intellectual ability, acceptance by others – he reduces me to a worldly measurement of value. He commands my focus and manipulates it for his purpose. If I don’t believe in myself, perhaps I’ll be willing to do things to advance his plan rather than Jesus’. If I don’t think I’m good enough, I may never accept Jesus’ and a warrior for Christ is lost. If I put faith in my doubts and fear, I may not write a blog that God could use to touch a heart. If I trust the lies of the enemy, rather than my Lord and Savior, I empower the enemy.
I know I’m not the only person who struggles with comparison. It looks different for each of us. But the root cause is the same. A lying enemy spewing hateful deceptions into the hearts and minds of God’s children.
Genesis 1: 26-27 make it very clear who defines us: 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image,in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.”
The only power the enemy possesses is that which we give him. Comparison isn’t new; it’s Biblical. Cain killed his brother Abel because God was more pleased with Abel’s offering (Genesis 4:1-16). Joseph’s brother compared how much their father loved Joseph, and they decided to sell him as a slave they were so jealous of him (Genesis 37:18-36). Leah and Rachel compared themselves to each other and ended up filled with envy. On the one hand, Leah was fertile while Rachel wasn’t. Rachel was desperate to have children and couldn’t understand why God blessed her sister in this area while she remained barren (Genesis 29-30).
At the very beginning of the Passover, the disciples began arguing with each other as to which of them should be elevated to the highest office in the Kingdom of God. And sadly, this was not the first time this had occurred (Matthew18:1; 20:20-28). “A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.” (Luke 22:24-26).”
James 3:14 tells us “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
So, let me just lay down some truth. Comparison says that we determine our value. Comparison says that what we do increases or decreases our worth. Comparison says that one person is more cherished than another. The enemy wants you to embrace that lie. To grip it with your very being and allow it to poison God’s plan for your life. For in comparison, you negate the holy creation you are.
BUT, when you reject comparison and accept and embrace the powerful truth of Genesis 1:27, you crush the enemy under your feet. When you are bathed in the truth of being created in the image of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; you are complete. Your value is not in question. Your worth is guaranteed by our Savior’s death and your Father’s hands. You can be used in a mighty way by the one who breathed life into your lungs.
The enemy has one strategy: lie to separate you from the Father. But the truth of your salvation in Jesus Christ is the only protection you need. It doesn’t matter whether the person next to you walks more miles on the treadmill. It only matters that you walk every mile with the One who loves you infinitely and accepts you absolutely.
What comparisons can you stop making today? Ask Jesus to take hostage all thoughts of comparison and replace them with acceptance for who you were created to be.
This week’s prayer can be found at: https://simplyjoy.online/prayers/contentment-prayers/i-am-complete/
Thank You!
Love that you wrote about this topic. It’s a terrible reality of our world — comparing ourselves and our worth against others. We all struggle with at at some point, women and men. Our culture breeds it into us from the earliest ages and we grow up fixated on how we compare to others and, worse, trying to figure out a ways to best others so that we become the object of comparison. I’ve had my share of toxic life experiences with comparing myself to others, and they have been soul crushing. It’s all so self-defeating to learning what we’re really supposed to be living for and what we were created to become while on this earth.
Thanks, too, for the references to Leah and Rachel! I’m reading the devotional book “Women of the Bible”, and I highly recommend.