The Comparison Trap
By Dr. Jason Robinson
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” - Psalm 139:13-14
In the world in which we live, it’s so easy to fall into the comparison trap. It’s easy to compare our lives with the perfectly planned photos and overly edited images that flood our social media platforms every single day. We may say to ourselves, “Their life is perfect. They have the perfect spouse, the perfect kids, the perfect house, the perfect job, the perfect pet, the perfect look, the perfect car, the perfect life.” But friends, what you see posted isn’t the whole story. And if we’re not careful, we can quickly find ourselves hanging out with Moses beside the burning bush, arguing with God about our insecurities. Comparison has the ability to steal our confidence and cause us to question the amazing gifts that God has already blessed us with. We must stop comparing ourselves to someone else’s highlight reels and start believing what God says about us.
The truth is simple. Life is beautiful and so are you.
Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”
God made you really special just the way you are. You are His masterpiece. So when you find yourself falling into the comparison trap, do all you can to resist the negative thoughts. Shut down your social media and dive into the Word. Turn your favorite worship music up a little louder and bask in the truth of who God says you are.
You are loved. (Romans 8:38-39)
You are chosen. (1 Peter 2:9)
You are forgiven. (1 John 1:9)
You are set free. (John 8:36)
Prayer for Today:
God, help me to rest in the promises of your Word. Help me to stop comparing myself to others and instead, embrace what you say about me. I know that I am loved. I am chosen. I am forgiven. And I am set free. Amen.
Dr. Jason Robinson is an Associate Professor of Education at Lee University in southeast Tennessee. Jason is a local, state, and national award-winning educator who has a passion for teaching and equipping the next generation of leaders. He and his family reside in Cleveland, Tennessee.