How Making Comparisons will Always Steal Your Peace, Hope, and Joy
It’s the season of comparisons.
Advertisers tempt us to compare every part of our celebrations so they can entice us to make purchases that will “make us feel better about ourselves.”
Theodore Roosevelt once said…
“Comparison is the thief of joy.”
And I believe he was right. The enemy of our souls uses comparisons in an attempt to steal our peace, hope, and joy.
So, I’ve been asking . . . why would we willingly sacrifice our joy and give in to self-focused comparisons when God has given us everything we need through Jesus?
Jesus showed His followers and they taught all of us how to have an attitude that makes it possible to experience the peace, hope, and joy we desire.
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Though He was God,
Philippians 2:5–8
He did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, He gave up His divine privileges;
He took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When He appeared in human form,
He humbled Himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
The Creator and King of the universe humbled Himself and gave up the glories of heaven to show us God’s love by suffering our punishment and dying our death.
If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.
Romans 10:9–10
So that through faith in Him we live with Him forever in heaven.
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
And experience peace, hope, and joy right now.
That’s Christmas! Jesus is why we celebrate.
If you and I want true and lasting peace, hope, and joy we need to keep our focus on Jesus and refuse to compare what we have and who we are with anyone.
Jesus humbled Himself for us and God’s Word tells us that we are to have that same humble heart . . . something we can only have when we stop comparing.
Let’s Pray…
A Prayer to Live Each Day with Peace,
Hope, and Joy Without Comparisons
Abba Father, You are so very good and gracious. Thank you for loving us so much that You sent Jesus to show us Your love by saving us from the power of sin, death, and the power of evil. He humbled Himself and took on the physical limitations of our human bodies to show us Your better way . . . living out Your perfect truth.
Please forgive us for giving in to the temptation to be dissatisfied and envious. Forgive us for minimizing Your provision and care through comparisons. Please forgive me. You are so generous and kind. Your saving grace is more than I deserve. You watch over Your creation and You watch over me. You promise that when we SEEK You above all else, You will give us everything we need.
Please help me live with a grateful humble heart. Please help me love like Jesus. Please help me live each day focused on Your love and counting my blessings remembering that Your grace is sufficient for all my needs.
When doubts distract me and I’m tempted to compare my life with someone else’s please strengthen me and help me look to Jesus . . . the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Amen.
The temptation to make comparisons is a constant . . . it’s with us from our earliest days and beyond. How often have you heard siblings whine “it’s not fair.”
Oh, how the enemy knows our weaknesses.
But when we keep our eyes focused on Jesus and live with gratitude refusing to compare our lives with others He promises to give us reasons for peace, hope, and joy. They are part of the blessings we have from the Spirit.
Remember Romans 15:13 noted above . . . we may want to commit it to memory.
Every blessing is a gift from God’s grace and remembering that helps us live each day with humble gratitude.
So, intentionally pause and thank the Father for Jesus. God with us. The Word made Flesh. Our humble servant Savior.
And when the enemy tempts you to look at your family, friends, and neighbors with an attitude of comparison . . . look up raise your hands in praise and worship and say, “Thank you, Jesus! You have given me everything I need today, tomorrow, and forever.”
I’ll be honest with you. I wrote this post because the enemy would love to have us feel sorry for ourselves. He frequently whispers to us that Rev’s illness isn’t fair. But then we pause and remember the Lord’s eternal promises and that whatever each day brings . . . when Jesus is with us and within us, we have everything we need.
May the Lord bless you and fill you with everything you need as you focus your heart and mind on Jesus.
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Continued prayers for Rev and you, Deb. May Jesus give you hope, peace and joy.
Blessings!
Thank you so much, Martha! We truly appreciate your friendship and your prayers.
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Athanasius from Africa, Namibia
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This hits home on some days. Daily I remind myself aloud that I’m thankful for everything God provides for our family! It’s so easy to compare and let jealously creep in but I’m standing firm. Thank you for these words and reminder as well! Exactly the encouragement needed to run with endurance
God bless you, Summer! Gratitude is the solution for our comparisons. Thanks also for your kindness.
Deb, you are so right when you say that the emeny sets us up to be upset. I have learned to not compare (most of the time, I do fall back sometimes!) myself with others. It only shows signs of jealousy. And that is not good. God gives us all so many blessings. I know there is no need to compare. I am thankful for where I am now and for the people in my life. And, I am thankful for your posts.
I do wish you and the Rev. well. You have truly blessed your followers with such an amazing spirit!!
Thanks so much, Sue. I truly appreciate your encouragement. And I love your heart and honesty. We can all agree that contentment is found in being satisfied with God’s blessings; yet, we’re all prone to making comparisons at times. How blessed we are by His forgiveness and love.
Praying for both Rev and you. Goodness, I can’t even count how many times I felt that life’s events weren’t fair, or I wasn’t treated fairly. I still remember one of my friend asking me after listening to my wooo me, that why do you expect the world to treat you fairly? You’re not one of them. And his statement kind of took the wind out of my sail.
Isn’t it what the Word says too?, that while the world treats us unfair, we shouldn’t stop being fair to all? The other day my husband had a hard day, and I lost my patience. While thinking it through in my solace, the first thing that came to mind, how patient Jesus is with me…. I guess, that was one of the good comperisons, as immediately shame came into my heart that prompted me to apologize. After all, how can I be impatient when He was nothing but super patient, loving and faithful to me?
The bottom line, just as you said Deb, that I’m learning to keep my eye on Jesus. Search what He would do in a given situation, or when the Spirit prompts me then listen to it.
Have a blessed night and the Lord’s love and strength be with both of you ????
Thank you for your prayers, Gaby. We truly appreciate them! Praying for you and your husband as well. Blessings and hugs!