Better. Stronger. Faster. Prettier. Smarter. Taller. Skinnier. Wealthier.
Someone will always be something “er” more than you and me. It’s lethal to fix our eyes where we feel we lack and focus where we feel someone else has something in spades.
Perhaps you’re dragging some unmet expectations through life. Maybe a situation left you bruised, battered, and just a little bitter. Bitterness leads to resentment, and resentment is quicksand. When we look at the lives of others through the blurred lens of jealousy or resentment, comparison strangles our joy. Yuck.
It’s easy to get stuck in the comparison trap. When we give in to the temptation to compare, honestly, we express discontent with the will of God. When we feel slighted, unvalued, or left out, these feelings can seep out sideways through our thoughts and words. The enemy loves nothing more than for us to get caught in the trap of comparison and question God’s character.
“Are you really good, God? Are you really trustworthy? My life just isn’t turning out as I want it too. Look how ‘_______ – er’ her life is than mine.”
That, my friends, is dangerous.
In “Finding Joy When Life is Out of Focus,” I share about learning the secret of contentment that served as a hallmark of Paul’s life. That is how he is able to say, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,” Phil 4:13
We can get unstuck from the trap of comparison by choosing contentment and gratitude – trusting that God is truly good to us. Paul looked at life through the grace-crafted lens of eternity, and we can choose to do the same.
Instead of staying stuck in the deadly trap of comparison, let’s practice gratitude. When we lean into God’s provision over our lives, we live in the shadow of His protection. We can choose
Here are 5 ways to choose contentment regardless of our circumstance:
1. Yield completely to God.
2. Trust the timing of God.
3. Rest in the faithfulness of God.
4. Depend on the grace of God.
5. Focus on the promise of eternity with God.
Get unstuck from the comparison trap! The next time you feel an “er” coming on, ask God for a fresh lens on your perspective. You’ll love the life you see!
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on angeladonadio.com.
Featured image by Avi Richards
