Comparison game: is an all-consuming, exhausting enemy of peace and contentment
Jerica’s testimony: "What do you say when you see this pic? I wish I was married? Aww black love, I want that? I wish I went with her photographer. She's got it all together. I know her life is all messed up, but mine isn't. Who did her makeup?? This picture doesn't show the relief that I has because most of my wedding was do it yourself, and alot of people ran around like crazy. It doesn't show that I lived away from him a year before we were married, and I didn't really know that year would impact us in such a negative way that we would be headed for divorce. It doesn't show that the wedding was late and the people in the room were starving. It doesn't show that the whole day was gone in the blink of an eye and I don't remember all the details.
Imani’s testimony: I am the first to admit, that I struggle with the negative spirit of comparison. It is a daily struggle to not compare myself to others, because I feel that I lack. It’s something that I have dealt with since I was young. I was always too skinny, didn’t have the most fashionable clothes, didn’t embrace my natural hair, etc. Every man I ever dated I would wonder why they were even with me. Even now as a successful working professional, I still struggle with feeling inadequate. I’ll give you a very real example. When I dated my daughters father, I never felt like I was enough. He would make asinine comments that would make me feel that I wasn’t worthy. Now, I have always had a smart mouth so I always had a comment to make back, but that doesn’t negate the fact of how those comments made me feel. What’s crazy is that I found myself trying to everything to impress him and make him love some part of me. To make him look at me the way I saw him do with other women. To make him be proud enough to take me out to meet all of his friends, not just a select few. Child just reflecting on this right now, I can see how the enemy had me locked down. Thank God for his grace and his mercy, that I am no longer trapped in a ungodly, unfulfilling relationship that bore rotten fruit. I’m thankful for the nights I cried myself to self, screamed at God asking why, because here I am to share with you that comparison leads to nothing. Although I still may have my moments, God reminds me that I am special. I am worth the wait. That even though I am now a single mother, even though her father chose to walk away, that is not the end of this story. Greater things are still to come and have already taken place.
Your best life doesn’t require you to be perfect, just present.- Mattie James
Jerica~ On material things.
What you have is less important than what you do with what you have. -andy stanley
How can we stop comparing, or make it easier to live our life and be satisfied?
Consult your on-call consultant...JESUS. He’s available 24/7, 365. Many times we are quick to try and change plans or situations without asking for understanding and guidance from the father. Go to God in prayer and read your word. All of your answers are there. Jeremiah 29:13 [Full Chapter] You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Seeking the counsel of wise people with more experience is another way to make our journeys easier. Proverbs 15:22 says, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." Before we create our own plans, let's seek wisdom from people around us who know God's Word and have traveled ahead of us. Remember that we cant have it all. The girl who has the perfect waist, can go to the gym, and snaps those Instagram pics with her perfectly toned arms is the same girl who's been crying all night because she doesn't have a baby. The woman who has a 2 story home, works full time, has a husband, and two kids sits at her table wondering how shes going to pay off her student loans. The woman who posts love quotes during her trips to Vegas and Paris with her boo, constantly wonders if he even loves her at all. There is no such thing as the perfect person. We all have insecurities, setbacks, flaws, and deficits. We have to battle a never-ending one- to be perfect and the best, knowing we will never achieve it. It's the human way! We have to remember to try our best in what we do , and we will have no regrets. God the father is an exceptional potter, and he molds the most amazing creations. And each creation is one of a kind. You can’t find another like it around. And He places each of His great works on immaculate shelfs, only to be used for his Glory. We are the immaculate pottery. And just was we wouldn’t place any trash in our expensive vases, or place it in an area where it could be damaged or broken, we need to do the same with our heart, self image, etc. Comparison is a trick of the enemy to make you think that you aren’t worthy, because you aren’t like someone else. Remember that you are perfectly imperfect. You were made in God’s image, but the only child that he created as perfect is Christ Jesus. You are beautiful. You are lovable. You are blessed. You are unique. You are special. You are strong. You are intelligent. You are enough. On self-image. are unique, special, incredible. Your gifts and talents are custom-designed by God. You are one of a kind. You are loved. And the best part?I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Psalm 139:14). On your accomplishments.
Galatians 6:4 New Living Translation (NLT) 4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For the single mom, single woman: Song of Songs 6:8-9 New International Version (NIV) 8 Sixty queens there may be, and eighty concubines, and virgins beyond number; 9 but my dove, my perfect one, is unique, the only daughter of her mother, the favorite of the one who bore her. The young women saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines praised her.
