It’s something that seems almost innate to us from the second we are born. We enter this culture of constant comparison and debate of what’s better or worse. I remember from a very young age looking to older women and wishing or desiring to be like them. I remember comparing my body, my attitude, and my life to theirs. I did not realize how detrimental that could be to my self esteem at such a young age because it seemed normal in our society. Now as young adult and a woman of God I realize that comparison can be a tool the devil uses to create a spirit of insufficiency and self doubt.
I personally struggle with comparison and so I have decided to take this journey as an opportunity to partner with the he Lord and try to overcome that. I want to see myself as the Father sees me and also realize that He has me exactly where He wants me regardless of what others might be doing on their journey back home or on the World Race. I am hand-crafted and God created me to be exactly who he wanted me to be. He also hand picked the people on my team for this journey, SevenStrong. Our experience is going to be completely different than any other teams and the last thing I want to do is create a culture of inadequacy or dissatisfaction with our time together.
It’s interesting because this subject has been heavy on my heart as I’ve been struggling on how much time to spend on Social Media, the breeding grounds for comparison. I feel as though when I see photos of what other teams are doing and start to think, “Oh, that looks like so much fun. I wish we could be doing that” it creates a culture of comparison and paints a picture that our experience might not be as great as theirs which couldn’t be further from the truth. The Lord knows what He’s doing and He also knows why He put everyone of us together and the experiences we share are unique to us as a team. It’s a beautiful picture actually because all of the teams are going to have different stories to share and every month will bring new stories and experiences specific to them and their team.
You’ll have to excuse me if I don’t post photos of this journey daily. The Lord has encouraged to spend my time completely engaged and present with the people I am interacting with and ministering to. So even though we have wi-if in the home of our current ministry I feel as though it would not be pleasing to the Lord or edifying to my Spirit if I sat on Facebook or Instagram posting photos everyday of what we are doing. Now please don’t take this as I’m not going to be sharing with you all because I am but it will likely be on a weekly basis rather than daily.
My challenge to myself is to limit my social media log-ins to once a week and also my screen time to an hour a week. This journey is a chance for abandonment of the life I used to live and the habits that might have been hindering my Spiritual life in the past. It’s a chance to break the addiction and the strong hold that screens have had on my life in the past. Social Media is a direct flight to the land of comparison for me and it’s one of my hopes and prayers for this year to overcome that.
I was really struggling to write this first blog and I asked the Lord to tell me what He wanted me to write. What would be encouraging for the people that are going to read this? What is an area of vulnerability that I could share with y’all? Well this morning during my devotions I was reading in John 21 and read, “21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Peter was concerned with how John would die compared to how he would and Jesus questioned why it mattered to Peter, because it did not affect him. Jesus has plans for each and everyone of us as followers of Christ and we must not question and compare what is happening in other’s lives because their walk is not ours. After reading that scripture I felt the Lord encouraging me to write this blog if not for anyone back home, possibly for my fellow World Racers.
Lastly, I would like to pray over this blog and all of it’s readers. I pray that if you are struggling with the spirit of comparison that the Lord would break those chains and allow you to be satisfied and joyful in the person he has created in you. You are beautiful and special and I pray that He allows you to view yourself as He views you, completely unique and completely perfect in His eyes. I found the following scriptures to be very encouraging and convicting as well in dealing with comparison.
Galatians 1:10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Blessings to you all.
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