“Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Some days this quote runs laps in my mind, as I struggle to push back against the very loud voice of not measuring up. The voice that tells me others have found the secret recipe to perfection in their parenting, marriage, career. The voice that sows seeds of discontent, self-doubt, and envy. On these days, I swear I can feel the battle for my soul raging in the spiritual realm.
“…envy rots the bones.” – Proverbs 14:30
That’s really what comparison is, isn’t it? Envy. Jealousy. We become a captive, salivating audience to the enemy’s deceptions. Whatever message of comparison you’re hearing, it comes down to the enemy trying to move your heart posture from gratitude to greed.
The poisonous fruit of comparison. Sounds a lot like a story in early Genesis. Replaying in our everyday.
But thank you God for grace.
Grace that says we can be honest in the struggle.
Grace that sees the darkest parts of our hearts and loves us anyway.
Grace that sits with us in the present but compels us to seek healing for the future.
The same perfect grace that existed in Genesis manifested in human form through Jesus. And it’s the same perfect grace that’s available to anyone who chooses to receive it.
So while we continue this journey of healing and a greater awareness of our need for it, let’s cling to the grace that has been freely and abundantly given to us.
“…But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more.” – Romans 5:20
And that’s the mid-week memo.
Katie
