Stop comparing, start encouraging!
I was so encouraged recently when a God fearing woman who I respect very much sent me such an encouraging email at just the right time. Thank you Ann!
I was feeling down, discouraged, and looking around it seemed like everyone else had it all together, but me, you know the feeling, right? And I know why I was feeling this way. I had not been feeling well physically and I started watching tv, which for me is a huge sucking mechanism, one that pulls me in and allows the evil one to prey on all of my insecurities.
I was feeling blue, and once again questioning, "Who am I to think that I can write a blog, especially a Christian blog?" This is an ongoing struggle for me, but I keep trying because I feel that is what God wants me to do. So, I chose to stop this madness! I did an about face, turned off the tv and dove into my current bible study, "A Confident Heart," by Renee Swope.
And the Lord blessed me so! I read this message that I have to share with you. I hope you will see not only why my letter from Ann was so encouraging, but I believe was God's providence, encouraging me, to "keep on my mighty soldier!" Of course those are my words, but follow me.....
So on page 137, of "A Confident Heart," Renee shares her own struggles of constantly comparing herself to others. She says that she feels like she can never measure up (I am so there with you sister!). She believes that comparison is one of women's worst enemies. I agree. She quotes a friend of hers Genia who said that, "Every time I compare myself with someone else, I can never measure up because I am comparing my insides with their outsides." Yes! We compare how we feel on the inside, which is always inadequate, to how someone looks on the outside. Let's be honest, no one looks on the outside, like they feel on the inside. That is why our closets are filled with clothes, shoes, make-up and hair products. We all wear masks!
But here is the key that I wanted to share, and what is soooo important to us as Christians. Renee goes on to say, "Comparison causes us to compete with each other, but no one wins! (emphasis mine) God never intended for us to compete with each other; He wants us to complete one another, celebrating and encouraging each other's strengths while discovering who He created us to be." Paul tells us why in 1 Cor 12:18-20: But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
Do you see? When we compare ourselves to others, desiring to be like others, it creates jealousy and self esteem issues. When really God just wants us to be.....US. Who He created US to be.
I want to thank Ann for sending me words of encouragement. I don't know if Ann is a natural encourager, or if this was hard for her. I know it does not come easy for many. But she did it. She shared with me a bible study that she is studying and words that spoke to her for me and she even shared an encouraging scripture from Is 52:7-8: How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
She sent me a note, not competing with me, but completing me. Just as thoughts of discouragement were swirling in my head, I get an encouraging note to "march on" and to continue to bring God's good news. I may not be the most studied person out there, but I am God's unique creation just as all of us are, and I do have a story to tell. God has brought me through many troubling times. He is Lord to me. And if I can share that in a way that helps one person, I so desire to do that. So having Ann's note come on the same evening I had just turned back towards the Lord, away from the tv - just as I was being replenished by my Lord through Renee Swope's study - and just at the moment when I needed to hear that someone cares; it once again shows, oh, how our Lord is good!
Just imagine what the body of Christ would look like if every time we had the opportunity, we set our own fears, jealousy, comparisons and self criticism aside. And instead we boldly exclaimed, "I am a part of the body of Christ. God made a 'unique me'. He knit me in my mother's womb to play a special role in his kingdom. I will stop comparing myself to others; I instead will look to my God. I will accept my role as His child, as His special creation and I will simply tell MY story; the story God has created for ME on this earth. God has helped me through hard times. He has given me joy in impossible situations. He has taken me under His wing. I have a story to tell. I will celebrate the lives of those around me; celebrating their uniqueness's. I will honor them in their role and I will encourage them, not just for me, or for them, but for the kingdom as a whole. Because my God died for me, I will give my life for his kingdom!"
So let's stop comparing ourselves to others and lets start encouraging for the sake of the kingdom of God. Can you imagine the impact we could have?
So question? What stops us from encouraging others? What are some interesting ideas you have to encourage one another?
I was feeling down, discouraged, and looking around it seemed like everyone else had it all together, but me, you know the feeling, right? And I know why I was feeling this way. I had not been feeling well physically and I started watching tv, which for me is a huge sucking mechanism, one that pulls me in and allows the evil one to prey on all of my insecurities.
I was feeling blue, and once again questioning, "Who am I to think that I can write a blog, especially a Christian blog?" This is an ongoing struggle for me, but I keep trying because I feel that is what God wants me to do. So, I chose to stop this madness! I did an about face, turned off the tv and dove into my current bible study, "A Confident Heart," by Renee Swope.
And the Lord blessed me so! I read this message that I have to share with you. I hope you will see not only why my letter from Ann was so encouraging, but I believe was God's providence, encouraging me, to "keep on my mighty soldier!" Of course those are my words, but follow me.....
So on page 137, of "A Confident Heart," Renee shares her own struggles of constantly comparing herself to others. She says that she feels like she can never measure up (I am so there with you sister!). She believes that comparison is one of women's worst enemies. I agree. She quotes a friend of hers Genia who said that, "Every time I compare myself with someone else, I can never measure up because I am comparing my insides with their outsides." Yes! We compare how we feel on the inside, which is always inadequate, to how someone looks on the outside. Let's be honest, no one looks on the outside, like they feel on the inside. That is why our closets are filled with clothes, shoes, make-up and hair products. We all wear masks!
But here is the key that I wanted to share, and what is soooo important to us as Christians. Renee goes on to say, "Comparison causes us to compete with each other, but no one wins! (emphasis mine) God never intended for us to compete with each other; He wants us to complete one another, celebrating and encouraging each other's strengths while discovering who He created us to be." Paul tells us why in 1 Cor 12:18-20: But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
Do you see? When we compare ourselves to others, desiring to be like others, it creates jealousy and self esteem issues. When really God just wants us to be.....US. Who He created US to be.
I want to thank Ann for sending me words of encouragement. I don't know if Ann is a natural encourager, or if this was hard for her. I know it does not come easy for many. But she did it. She shared with me a bible study that she is studying and words that spoke to her for me and she even shared an encouraging scripture from Is 52:7-8: How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
She sent me a note, not competing with me, but completing me. Just as thoughts of discouragement were swirling in my head, I get an encouraging note to "march on" and to continue to bring God's good news. I may not be the most studied person out there, but I am God's unique creation just as all of us are, and I do have a story to tell. God has brought me through many troubling times. He is Lord to me. And if I can share that in a way that helps one person, I so desire to do that. So having Ann's note come on the same evening I had just turned back towards the Lord, away from the tv - just as I was being replenished by my Lord through Renee Swope's study - and just at the moment when I needed to hear that someone cares; it once again shows, oh, how our Lord is good!
Just imagine what the body of Christ would look like if every time we had the opportunity, we set our own fears, jealousy, comparisons and self criticism aside. And instead we boldly exclaimed, "I am a part of the body of Christ. God made a 'unique me'. He knit me in my mother's womb to play a special role in his kingdom. I will stop comparing myself to others; I instead will look to my God. I will accept my role as His child, as His special creation and I will simply tell MY story; the story God has created for ME on this earth. God has helped me through hard times. He has given me joy in impossible situations. He has taken me under His wing. I have a story to tell. I will celebrate the lives of those around me; celebrating their uniqueness's. I will honor them in their role and I will encourage them, not just for me, or for them, but for the kingdom as a whole. Because my God died for me, I will give my life for his kingdom!"
So let's stop comparing ourselves to others and lets start encouraging for the sake of the kingdom of God. Can you imagine the impact we could have?
So question? What stops us from encouraging others? What are some interesting ideas you have to encourage one another?
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