Day 5- Don't Compare Yourself to Others

Sometimes in our lives we are tempted to look at other peoples’ lives and compare ourselves to them.  We may think, ‘Look at that person, I wish I had that, then I would be happy’, or maybe, ‘That person doesn’t even go to church as much as I do but look at what God has given to them, it’s unfair.’

It’s normal for a person to sometimes feel this way, however, let’s look at this situation from a different perspective.

Role playing time! You are a particular plant and you have been planted in this particular place. In the place where you were planted you are being provided with the things that you need to grow and blossom. Your gardener comes everyday and prunes you and you are the best you’ve ever been. However one day you somehow see another plant. This plant looks great, it’s blooming beautifully and suddenly, the two flowers that you worked hard to sprout suddenly doesn’t look so great.

Okay, so what did that mean?

In life we are all like a plant, we are placed in homes in different countries of the world; this is where we are planted. We are also given specific talents, this is what you need to grow and blossom in the place where you are. Also God is always pruning us by helping us to grow in our lives and become better people. It is written in Isaiah 49:15 that even if your mother were to forget you, God will not forget you!

Nevertheless, sometimes we see someone else, planted in a different place, growing under different conditions and we compare ourselves to them and feel inferior to them because they have accomplished more but we have no reason to ever feel this way.

Why? You may ask. Well it’s simple; if you are a different plant then you will have your own season to grow and blossom. In other words, you are different, the things you have were given specifically to you for your growth and in the right time you will be just as beautiful as anyone else, allow yourself to be you and to grow and bloom in your season. Just like you can only get sunflowers spring and mangoes in the summer, you must wait for your season.  The reason is because you are special and need special conditions to nurture you, so what will help you mature may not be right for another person; for that reason you are who you are.

  Just because you see someone else fulfilling their dreams it doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have great things in store for you. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us “I know the plans I have for you” says the Lord “Plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.”  

So remain encouraged, God loves you and he has amazing things especially for you! A quote from the Daily Bread reminds us;

“When you look at someone else’s life,

Thinking it’s better than your own,

Just remember what God has given you,

Was designed for you alone.”