Hi.
I'm Jenny Free.
I have a problem.
I compare myself to others all.the.time.
I've already shared my struggle with contentment.
Comparing myself to others is another one of my major struggles
(oh yes...there is quite the list!)
This hit me like a ton of bricks today as I was stacking up myself against another one of my facebook friends.
Then it hit me just how often I do it!
And how it really promotes my negative 'self talk'.
Here's a sneak into my brain:
"Wow, she looks really pretty!"
I wish I looked like that, I look so bad, I need to lose weight, get new clothes, tame this frizzy hair...ugh....I'm sooo ugly.
"Her house is so amazing and organized"
I wish I had those natural skills. My house looks like a pit. I'm such an awful wife. I need to do better...
"She knows so much about the Bible!"
Why can't I know that much?! Maybe because I don't make the time. Gosh, I'm an awful Christian...I need to be more like her....
"Wow! My friend is really losing weight!"
I need to lose weight, Im so fat. Ughh.... I can't believe my husband can even LOOK at me!
Yada, yada, yada....
The list can go on forever.
This is not healthy!
God does not want us stacking ourselves up, then beating ourselves down for our failures!
| Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else.
Galatians 6:4
| This verse speaks volumes! |
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| We are each assigned to our own mission in this world. |
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| We need to put our everything into that mission. |
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| If we are doing our best in that, we can't compare ourselves to others! |
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| They don't have the same unique assignment! |
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 | God created each of us in His own unique way for His own unique purpose. |
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| I was created with red, frizzy hair for a reason. I need to embrace it. |
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| God has given me a 'laid back attitude' with my home to create a relaxed atmosphere. |
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| God has given trials (weight problems, health problems, losses, etc.) to help minister to others. |
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| I can look at all these things as flaws, or know that they are part of what makes me who I am. |
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| Other woman were created uniquely, and while the outside may seem perfect, it isn't. No one has a perfect life. |
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| If we compare ourselves to 'perfection' we will ALWAYS be disappointed in ourselves. |
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| I know, for today I am going to focus on Galatians 6:4 and work hard to be the best I can be in MY assignment of life. |
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| There are many amazing women in this world that inspire me, and I thank God for them. |
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| But God does not want us to think less of ourselves because of them. |
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| I hope this relates to someone out there....or maybe I'm the only one who struggles with this.... |
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| I hope you all have a fantastic weekend! |
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You're such a great writer! I love your posts, whenever I'm feeding Harper and my laptops next to me I get on and look at your posts :) which is a lot..she likes to eat! haha. We did a study with the women at my church about pride and how really a lot of our problems boil down to pride, I'm not saying you have that problem at ALL (it just reminded me of this other thing) but one of my favorite lessons was where the lady said "just stop thinking about yourself- don't focus on YOU at all and just try to think of others constantly and you won't let yourself down"- ok I'm not quoting exactly but you get the idea. It's something that has helped me so much! The bible never talks about our self-esteem but always focusing on others and the more I strive to do that the happier I am. I woke up with two HUGE zits and on a normal day I would've stressed over them like crazy but when I look in the mirror and think "look away- it doesn't matter what you look like!" it's just so nice to let it all go.
ReplyDeleteOk I didn't mean to write a book on your page but since I have been thinking about this a lot I had to share :)
That is wonderful!!! TOTALLY the reminder I needed!
ReplyDeleteHave you ever seen Louie Giglio's video about the universe? He emphasizes how HUGE our universe is, which reflects a HUGE MIGHTY creator, and how TEENY TINY we are. And how BIG we make ourselves out to be. If you haven't seen it, check it out on youtube...its one of my absolute FAVORITES! Thanks for sharing Amanda! That was great insight!
Thanks for posting this! I was listening to KLOVE yesterday morning as I was driving to work, and they gave a reminder about this exact same thing. Obviously I needed the reminder!
ReplyDeleteI am 25, and I just found my first gray hair about a month ago. That has lead to some serious stressing and some serious vanity! The radio reminder, along with your post, really drove home the fact that I need to focus less on the outside and more on the inside and God's purpose for my life.
As a side note...most of the people I compare myself to the most have serious insecurities of their own that I rarely see!
Great post!
I struggle with the same thing (don't we all?), and I am always having to remind myself that God has a plan and a design for each of us as individuals.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this GREAT post, and such a good reminder:)
Wow! I really needed this today. Thank you so much for sharing. I get into the same routine, looking at others and questioning everything about them, about God, about myself. At the end of it all, I find myself defeated and hungry...literally. Thank you so much for that verse. It feels so good to hear His Word, such a blessing and honor to have the bible right at our fingertips. I love reading your blog, thank you so much for writing so honestly and sharing things that are hard to admit. I think about you a lot lately and it warms my heart to do so!
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