Why Comparison Steals Your Joy {and how to get it back}
Have you ever had the feeling that life is not fulfilling?
Are you ever unsatisfied with life as you know it?
My little girl encountered this on a very small-scale one day when I went announced that we were going to the Dairy Queen. I only had $10 on me, but it was hot, so I told the kids we could drive thru and order cones.
All the kids happily placed their order, except one. She pouted, because she wanted a Blizzard. But, I couldn’t afford it, I explained. She continued to pout and slouch. So I quietly ordered 4 cones instead of the 5 I had planned. She was a little shocked. I told her that I knew the cone would not make her happy, so I didn’t get her one. She had set her sights on something that she couldn’t have, which we have all done. (not to mention we have a no whining policy in our home.)
She had a lesson to learn:
Comparison kills contentment and leads to covetousness. (Tweet this)
Do you find yourself wanting more? Can you easily fill in this blank?
“If only ___________were different about my life, I would be happier.”
I am sure our answers all differ, but I can imagine that some of your blanks would say: past, finances, education, marriage, children, school, stage, health, relationships.
We all have things that we wish we could change. But if these things affect our outlook and mood and consume our thoughts, do you realize that you are caught in the trap of covetousness?
Covetousness is that green-eyed monster that wants something more for itself than what God has given.
And Jesus tells us not to covet or want anything belongs to our neighbor. He tells us to beware of covetousness and to be content with all we have, in whatever state we are in.
Have you found yourself in a hard place today? Some serious trouble?
You know what I mean by “serious”…things you might be powerless to change: Health problems, way ward children, financial crisis or marriage crisis. Paul was there, too with his “thorn in the flesh.” In fact, he prayed three times for God to remove it.
But God’s answer was this: My GRACE is sufficient for you. My strength is made perfect in your weakness.
Not only did Paul embrace his limitation, he also gloried in it. He esteemed it the same way that God did, as a good thing for Paul.
So right now, drop your covetousness. Repent of it. It is a big deal, even in small amounts.
In serious trials, instead of adopting a grin and bear it outlook, adopt a “My grace is sufficient for you” mindset.   Tweet This.
I happened on your blog today, and as I read this I too have been dealing with the dis-satisfactions of life. I had this conversation with a friend recently. And both of us realized it isn’t because we want more then we have, but because we long for what awaits us. This is not our home, nothing here will truly satisfy, not as adults and not our children.
Maybe helping them understand here we have to make choices. Like the choice between a cone and no cone. Instead of just not getting them anything. We have to learn that while we are here there will always be choices to make as we grow and become adults. The day will come when they we be setting budgets for there homes, or car purchases. So teaching them what money can buy them and the dangers of overspending. And that there are times when splurging is ok, but its not something that can always be done. Making good choices is what I work at to teach my children.
Keep up the great work.