Do you ever look around and compare yourself to others? It
can be tempting to evaluate your current life stage in comparison with friends,
peers, neighbors, or family. This can lead to feeling less than, inadequate,
behind, frustrated, or whatever other negative emotion that might be associated
with the comparison trap.
There’s also a temptation in the other direction if you see
someone that might be “behind” you to begin to feel smug, superior to, or
better than. In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus gives a warning about this.
Rather than taking your queues from those around you, it’s
far better to define yourself by how God sees you. Instead of comparing
yourself to a neighbor or friend’s professional, social, family, physical,
emotional, or spiritual life, celebrate their successes with them and keep
pressing in to God’s identity and plans for you. He tells us in Ephesians 2:10
that “we are his workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk
in them.” God gives each person unique giftings
and abilities and opportunities to use them.
There is of course the practical side
of evaluating areas of your life to identify things that need to change in a
healthy way. But this should be done by prayerfully seeking what God would have
for your life rather than done in comparison to someone else.
The world needs you to be the best you possible so step up in the areas that you thrive in. Don’t let unmet past hopes for present circumstances dominate your current attitude and future steps. Live fully where you’re at, always keeping your eyes on God’s best in each season.
The world needs you to be the best you possible so step up in the areas that you thrive in. Don’t let unmet past hopes for present circumstances dominate your current attitude and future steps. Live fully where you’re at, always keeping your eyes on God’s best in each season.
In pursuit of His best,
Andrew