BY TRISTA SMITH
GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
My whole life I have spent many hours shopping. I shop for food. I shop for clothes. I shop for my home. I shop for things I never thought I would ever be shopping for. Okay, I know, you get it! I shop….a lot!
Many things I love to shop for and some things I dread shopping for. I love the feeling I get when I find a steal of a deal and am able to save money.
We learn over the years to compare everything. We compare prices, value, size, colors, and if we really need it or want it. We are taught through education and life that value comes from different measures. Advertisements come and go with comparisons and daring us to find a better price.
As I look back on my life, past and present, I realize that I have brought my shopping comparisons into my daily life. I compare myself to other women and pretty much every time, I feel I fall short on value. I see the gifts that others have and wish I had even a portion of them.
I see their beauty and their personality, or even their failures and successes and compare myself to everything. I compare myself as a wife and mother to other women and feel I always fall short. I don’t see the value in myself because I am constantly comparing myself to others.
For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 2 Corinthians 10:12 (NKJV)
God is Not Shopping Around for Value
He made each of us special and extremely rare. He sees value in me because He made me. He filled me with my own gifts and qualities that make me who I am. He died for each one of us on the cross. One of us is not more worthy than the other. He loves me and is teaching me daily how to love myself. When I love myself in a Godly way, I have the ability to love others in a Godly way. We need to understand that only the enemy wants us comparing ourselves to others. When we compare ourselves to others, we are taking our eyes off of God and putting them on man.
For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 (NKJV)
Let’s stop comparing ourselves to others. Let us have a complete and biblical understanding of our value in Christ. I want to see the value in myself, even if that means I am completely different from another person I see value in. Seeing value in others does not make us less valuable. God loves us and He made each of us unique on purpose.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14 (NKJV)
Want to get started claiming victory over comparison in your own life? Author Kristine Brown’s new book, Over It: Conquering Comparison to Live Out God’s Plan, will you find contentment in your God-give uniqueness and learn to say “I’m over it!” and mean it. To learn more about Kristine and Over It, visit More Than Yourself.
Trista Smith is a Pastor’s Wife, Mother of 5 boys, Worship Leader and the author of the blog www.fivesonsplusone.com. Trista has a first-hand understanding of issues common to stay at home moms, and has unique perspective on finding your identity in Christ. Her writing always provides words of encouragement to help readers live out their destinies.
Trista is also a contributing writer for Real Women Ministries.
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