WWJD: Fighting Comparison

I am so excited to be sharing with you all the first post in my new series that I mentioned a few days ago. If you missed the introduction of WWJD, check it out here.

I pray that as I embark on this new journey with this series, that I am able to 

share Gods truth and love with you. That you know that He truly has your best interest 

in mind and can give you far more than you think you deserve. We serve a BIG 

God, I truly believe this and know this. Also, I am sharing my experiences with 

you all. I am in by no means an expert or think that all situations are the same. 

The Lord shows us Himself through all different ways and we grow closer to 

Him in different ways, as well. I do though, hope to encourage you to work on 

growing closer to the Lord in your personal life, and just see where He can take you!

The biggest thing that I have finally learned about myself is that I struggle with comparison. And I HATE to admit it. But don't we all hate to admit what we struggle with. We hate to admit to share that deep, embarrassing thing with others that just shows to them that we are also human. That we struggle with something just like everyone else does. That even though our instagram may look "perfect", our life is far from it. BUT let me remind you, friends, that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins. To give us grace from all that we suffer from and to live freely in His love. Once you know that, truly know it, deep down in your heart the thing(s) that you struggle with won't seem so hard or painful anymore. You won't feel like you're the only one out there dealing with this. Or that you're alone. I'm sure for most of us we have felt that we're the only one around us that has felt this way before. But guess what! YOU'RE NOT ALONE! Christ is with you and has been tempted just like you with this struggle.

But back to what Jesus has been teaching me and showing me in relation to comparison. First and foremost, I am created in Christ and Christ only. I wasn't created to be like the girls I see at the store or on social media. I was created to be me! From the beginning we were created to be like God and in His image, "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."" (Genesis 1:26). I've been making it a habit this year to have a verse that I meditate on throughout each month... and I don't find it coincidental at all that they have to do with making my heart more pure. We are also told in the bible not to be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2) or to seek for the approval of man (Galatians 1:10). Clearly God knows that we can easily compare our lives to others, even as Christians, but He knows how much more content and joyful our lives would be if we looked to Christ! I encourage you to ask God to place verses on your heart that will help you during hard times of struggle or temptation, it has definitely helped me during long, weary days. And if memorizing scripture is hard, ask for help in that too, the Lord already knows that it is hard for you and He wants to have an intimate relationship with you, one where you aren't afraid of asking Him for help!

Second, if I continue to let comparison in my life, I will never find contentment or be able to truly love myself. The past two weeks I have woken up early to go to a cycling class on Wednesday mornings at 6 am. Never in my life would I have thought that I could do it. But I'm finding a new love for myself through this cycling class. This morning was only the fourth time I have ever cycled, but I'm finding myself being motivated by me (and God) and not everyone around me. The first two times I was constantly looking around me to see what others were doing but that's not what I was capable of yet. So I've been focusing on what I can do and that's been showing! It's also been helping lately for me to pray on the way to class. I always pray and ask God to give me strength in Him and to motivate me to do my best so that I can give my best for His Kingdom. Jesus says ""Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."" (Matthew 7:7-8). Today was a great cycling class and I've already exceeded what I thought I could do. One thing that really stuck with me this morning, though, was something the cycle instructor said. She said "comparison is the thief of joy" and how true is that, friends?! I can definitely say that over the past year I have let myself become unhappy because I was comparing myself to those around me or those that I don't even know on instagram. But as Christ shows me where I am weak, I am leaning on Him to make me strong. Isaiah 40:29 tells us that "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak" and I firmly believe that if we are in prayer, asking the Lord to strengthen us, because we are weak, then He will do so. Friends, don't forget that just because we don't always see or hear from God directly that we doesn't hear us.

Thank you for letting me share where I am weak. It's not easy to be vulnerable and share things that are hard in our lives, but I am praying that it has encouraged you today. I am excited to continue learning how God can make me stronger. What have you been struggling with that the Lord is making you stronger in? Or where have you seen God? Even if it is little, God is still there and working in your life if you let Him. Look for Him today. Thank Him for all of the ways that He has made you stronger, but also ask Him to take your weaknesses and make those stronger, as well.