Joy and the Comparison Game
Meg Chaney
The comparison game, I never get very far when I start playing it. I look at a friend’s beautiful family pictures, I compare my business struggles to the, seemingly, overnight success of others, I wish for a life close to family instead of these military moves ever 2-3 years. Comparison turns into jealously, which turns into discontentment. Some of what I’m comparing may hold a grain of truth, but the surface layer of things is only the surface. We all have our deep inner battles. We all, at times, wish for things to be different.
But we have been given a tremendous gift in Jesus! Listen to this!
“You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and new wine abound.”
There are pleasures in this world that others may be fortunate to experience. Perhaps we wish for just a small amount of those things. But the joy of the Lord? It’s so much more! When such joy fills our heart, there’s little room left for jealously and comparison. We’re filled to the brim with joy and thanksgiving. When joy enters in, we realize that we already have all we need. Choosing joy over comparison isn’t always easy. But making that choice, day by day, can be rewarding. The Psalmist continues in the next verse with:
“I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, Lord, make me live in safely.”
At first, I wasn’t going to add this verse. It didn’t seem to really be on the “Joy” topic anymore. But then I started thinking… What exactly do we feel like when we’re filled with jealously and comparison? Does it, affect our sleep? When our heart is full of comparisons, we’re not really focusing on Jesus. Our focus on others, on the world around us and how our own life doesn’t measure up. Just as verse 7 reminds us of the incredibly abundant gift of joy that the Lord offers to us, verse 8 continues with a reminder of the only one we really need in this world. Jesus. When we’re discontent, we’re anxious, stressed, losing sleep. When we’re filled with Joy, we can rest easily, knowing that our hope is in Jesus Christ alone. He is our provider and sustainer. With His joy, we have all we need.
He is our safety. Our safety doesn’t come from buying the newest gadget, obtaining that dream job, or living in the perfect house, He is our provider and sustainer.
Rest easy, friends, and find true joy and peace in Him!
Where have you experienced the joy of the Lord this week?
In what area do you struggle with the comparison game? How could you change this mindset?