To Compare Or Not To Compare

I am not saying this because I am not in need, for I have learned to be content
whatever the circumstances. Philippians 4:11


Spoiler alert, the answer is don't compare, ever for any reason.

There is something that I really want. When I say “really want” you should picture a two year old's tenacity and stubbornness, the emotional dedication of a teenager asking for a later curfew and the hunger of a puppy left home alone all day, all rolled into one. I really want this thing. Really.

So I pray and hope and stand on biblical promises and trust my Abba and badger my Abba and cry out to my Abba.... I'm pretty sure you get the idea by now.

There are a few people of whom I am painfully aware, who have exactly what I want and have it in neon letters, on steroids and with great potential to continue right along their happy way. To say that a couple of those people, one in particular, annoy me is a vast understatement. What is that emotion again? Oh, right jealousy. Ugh! I hate being jealous.

I'm jealous because they have what I want, sure but that jealousy grows and festers and becomes well known to all around me because I compare. I look at Mr. X and I think, then say, how it's just not right that he should have what I want. Then I move on to the other ones, the ones I see as slightly less offensive and mentally list why I should have what they have or better. At that point I can wave good-bye to contentment godly or otherwise.

The flip side of comparisons is when I do receive a blessing and feel badly because I feel that someone else deserves it more. While that “why me” may seem lovely and altruistic, it's still the enemy of my contentment. It still causes me to judge God. Yes, you read that right, I said judge God and trust me friend, I am not alone in judging God.

We do it every time we question why this one is blessed and that one isn't, why there is sickness or hatred in the world or when things will get better. We do it when we bring our prayers to the throne only to pick them up again and think we can handle them better than the Savior of the world. In all of those examples and so many more, we judge God.

Our Abba is perfect. His will is right and best. If our eyes are focused on Him there is no room for comparisons and without comparisons it is much easier to stay content.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Not Really god, where are you?

Then they called on the name of Baal from morning to noon.”Baal answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made. At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said, “Surely he is a god! Perhaps his is deep in thought, or busy or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 1 Kings 18:26b-27 Those who know me would be quick to tell you that I am a bit sarcastic. It’s a quality that I have passed on to my children and even some of my grandchildren. Some days I feel a little guilty. Is that really a quality that God wants to see in me? Certainly that cannot be my go to attitude but there are times that it comes in quite nicely. This morning, reading a totally unrelated verse, I was reminded of this account in the first book of Kings. (It begins at verse 16 and continues to the end of the chapter. I highly recommend reading it if you haven’t and it if you have reread it. It’s great!) In this p
Read more

My Offering

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also love you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Ephesians 5:1-2 Standing in my kitchen, I was praying that what I was putting together for a friend would convey what I want her to know, that I so deeply appreciate her. As my mind spun around what can I add? What would she really like? Is this enough? I had to laugh. That is so often my prayer, “Lord, I don’t have anything to give. I don’t give enough. What can I possibly do?” and on, and on and…. Well, you get it, I’m sure. May I just say, GOD IS GOOD! (Yes, I know the caps mean I’m shouting. Yes, I am shouting!) While I was preparing my “gift” I was thinking about how often I feel that I don’t do enough, for friends, for family, for my hubby and certainly for God. I had music playing, another pretty typical occurrence. The Third Day song, “Offering” started to play and I started singing along.
Read more

God Only Knows

    Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again; Rejoice! Let you gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7   Anyone who knows me, know that I am very skeptical of anything that presents itself as a formula to get closer to God. It’s as if we have to follow certain steps in a certain order to get His attention or receive His mercy. I am much more an advocate of crying out from the naked, transparent depths of my heart. Trusting that the God who created me and loves me is not checking the order of my steps as I run to Him.           Today I’m going a little bit of a sidestep from that. This morning while praying three phrases came to my mind and heart and immediately I knew they weren’t just for me. Som
Read more