Comparison Kills Your Joy
You will never do as well, as your imagination tells you others are doing. In our mind, we create an invented world of perfection for others. They have the best relationships, income and position of influence. We compare the full reality of our lives to the imagined perfection of another. It disappoints us. Your real life can never match to the dream world you believe others are living.
You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbour’s
– Exodus 20:17
Comparison is a mistake. Comparison kills joy. When we compare our life to another, we use unequal scales. We see the projection they want us to see. Then we imagine the rest. The truth is their smile masks a battle. Only when the house of cards collapses do we say, “I never knew it was that bad for them.” Stop imagining other people’s lives are better than your own. Don’t compare. It’s the joy thief.
Your life is the only life you will ever live. There are no second chances. If you made a mess of it all, then look to your Great Redeemer. He restores the lost years. He finds a way to promote you above your mistakes. He redeems lost years.
Stop looking to the left and right. Their success, failure or struggle is not yours. God wants you to look straight ahead into your destiny in Him. Comparing our lives to another is a waste of time. We achieve nothing. We fail to grow. We do not take a step forward. Instead, we’re trying to guess where they went right and what went wrong for us. Ironically, two individuals who submit to the culture of comparison may find themselves both thinking the other is doing better. “If only I was…”
The sleep of a labouring man is sweet,
– Ecclesiastes 5:12
Whether he eats little or much;
But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep
Only you can walk the path God has set for you. It will look different from other paths. Don’t expect people to understand your call. It’s your calling. They don’t get it because the Lord gave it to you. Comparing your call is barren. Stop looking around, comparing, seeking confirmation from others and checking each step in made in another’s footprints. God is working. Keep obeying Christ and it will work out.
By Paul Backholer. Find out about Paul’s books here.
