This week I had the privilege of writing a devotional over at She Lives Vintage called Who has God called YOU to be? I wanted to dig a little deeper into pieces of this topic.
“When we look at other people as our mold, as our guide, and measure
ourselves based on them we become this misshapen, out of place looking
piece of clay. We are not operating in the gifts or calling that God has
planned for us.” – Who has God called YOU to be?
In our society, it is so easy to fall into the “comparison trap”, especially with social media. We see people who are seemingly perfect with beautifully worded quotes and statements that seem to effortlessly float through their fingers into a grammatically perfect, utterly profound, “picture perfect” post. But what you don’t see is their heart, you don’t see their situation, you don’t see the 50 deleted pictures that weren’t “just right” and you don’t know about the 45-minute long editing they did to their words.
“Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand…” Jeremiah 18:6
God is saying that we are His. If we are His we are like clay in a potters hand. He is the potter, we are the clay. He knew us before we were formed (Jeremiah 1:5) and He knows the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11). When we begin to compare ourselves to someone or something else and then feel bad or discouraged because we aren’t “just like” them, we don’t have the same giftings, talents, looks, capabilities as them we basically tell God “I know you’ve prepared this life for me, but you didn’t do it right because I’m not like this other person.”
Who are we to tell God that He messed up?
Christ is our measure.
That statement has gone over and over in my mind this week. There are so many different forms of measurement; time, distance, volume etc. Do we measure our time to Christ or to other people? Do we look at what all someone else is able to get done in a certain amount of time then feel bad because it seems that we should have done more? Do we see how far someone has gotten in their life and we measure where we are? What are you comparing? Who are you comparing to?
Christ is our measure.
“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:15
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2
“Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:6
This is a thought the Lord dropped into my spirit. Read carefully, I want you to fully understand what is being said.
Christ is our Measure.
He is able to do IMmeasurably more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
When you measure something you have a beginning and an end. God is infinite.
Infinite: Impossible to measure or calculate.
There is no measure, there is no end to His love. There is no limit or measure to what He can do through you. You only have to surrender.
Stop comparing yourself to other people and get alone with God.
Be Still.
“Be Still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
I picture someone standing still and everyone moving around them. We become so consumed with time, with measure, with everyone else and their standards that we get into this rush of “life”. When God is calling us closer. He wants you to go deeper with Him. Get alone with Him. Not alone with your phone, social media, the person you compare yourself to, and Him. No. HIM. Get in the Word.
All those standards you’re trying to live up to… let them fall. Let them shatter. That’s so scary! But let it happen. Those pieces of insecurity, anxiety, fear, doubt, that you hold behind your back when you talk to the Lord thinking the He won’t see. Hand them over. Stop saving those pieces because you think you should. Stop going through those pieces in your mind thinking you’re not good enough, you messed up too much, you deserve shame, guilt, fear, anxiety. No! There is NO fear in Love! God is Love! There is NO condemnation for those in Christ Jesus! Give it all to Him. Then listen, get still, get alone with Him and watch as He molds, shapes, and creates you to be the person God has created you to be.
Friend, I want you to be free from the trap, the lie, of comparison. God has such wonderful plans for you. For YOU. The beautiful individual that YOU are. Surrender yourself to Him. Get in the Word.