Identity in Christ and Comparison
I can think of nothing that snares the hearts of women and mothers more than comparisons gone awry. When comparisons seep into our hearts, they begin as a small drip, but the forces that trickle in with them—envy, covetousness, pride and contempt—can carve out a great canyon in the bedrock of our souls. And this emptiness creates a chasm between us, and God.
Separation is the enemy's ultimate goal. It is the pit into which the enemy fell, after clawing desperately to exalt himself over God, envying His power.
How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit. –Isaiah 14:12-15
The enemy's still clawing. Will you let him snatch away the power of God from you, by casting your vision on the things of this world of which he is the master, and using them as the measure of your worth?
It’s time for some truth:
I can think of nothing that snares the hearts of women and mothers more than comparisons gone awry. When comparisons seep into our hearts, they begin as a small drip, but the forces that trickle in with them—envy, covetousness, pride and contempt—can carve out a great canyon in the bedrock of our souls. And this emptiness creates a chasm between us, and God.
Separation is the enemy's ultimate goal. It is the pit into which the enemy fell, after clawing desperately to exalt himself over God, envying His power.
How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit. –Isaiah 14:12-15
The enemy's still clawing. Will you let him snatch away the power of God from you, by casting your vision on the things of this world of which he is the master, and using them as the measure of your worth?
It’s time for some truth:
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. -I John 4:4
Comparison creates a very insidious corrosion of a woman’s soul. It is from the Deceiver, diluting our true worth as it separates us from the perfect and unconditional love of God and attaches us to a lower existence. It undermines our ability to accept God’s grace, because in the emptiness it creates, we begin to believe that we belong to this world and must prove ourselves here. And in this state, feeling so far from grace, we are forever less than. Less than worthy. Which goes against the point of grace entirely.
But hope remains. There is a Redeemer.
God offers us another way, a higher way. His Living Water can trickle into the great chasm of comparison and fill us up again.
John 4:13-14 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
In Jesus, in thoughts focused on that which exists above this world, our cups go from being half-empty to more than half-full—they bubble over. And when comparisons come, and they will come, they can be received in this same fullness of Spirit. Instead of corroding our souls with envy, comparisons tempered with Living Waters can serve to teach us. And comparisons can inspire us to greater things, so that our internal dialogue is transformed into something higher, noble, worthy:
Instead of: She’s such a better mother than I am.
We say: She is a wonderful mother who I admire, and I can learn from her. What a gift!
Instead of: I’ll never measure up to her.
We say: God, thank you for bringing this confident woman into my life to inspire me to remember who I am—a daughter of the Most High. Help me receive this assurance, too.
Instead of: She’s always so pulled together, and I'm so far from it.
We say: She’s radiant, God, not because of anything she’s done, but because you carry her. Help me to become the radiant woman you have uniquely designed me to be, and let me cast my burdens upon you.
Instead of: I want what she’s got!
We say: Lord, thank you for all you’ve given me. Help me to be a steward of your gracious gifts. You promise to increase what you’ve entrusted me as I give back to your Kingdom, and to fill my heart with your fruit: joy!
Finally, [sisters], whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. -Philippians 4:8-9
~written by Wendy Connelly
Comparison creates a very insidious corrosion of a woman’s soul. It is from the Deceiver, diluting our true worth as it separates us from the perfect and unconditional love of God and attaches us to a lower existence. It undermines our ability to accept God’s grace, because in the emptiness it creates, we begin to believe that we belong to this world and must prove ourselves here. And in this state, feeling so far from grace, we are forever less than. Less than worthy. Which goes against the point of grace entirely.
But hope remains. There is a Redeemer.
God offers us another way, a higher way. His Living Water can trickle into the great chasm of comparison and fill us up again.
John 4:13-14 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
In Jesus, in thoughts focused on that which exists above this world, our cups go from being half-empty to more than half-full—they bubble over. And when comparisons come, and they will come, they can be received in this same fullness of Spirit. Instead of corroding our souls with envy, comparisons tempered with Living Waters can serve to teach us. And comparisons can inspire us to greater things, so that our internal dialogue is transformed into something higher, noble, worthy:
Instead of: She’s such a better mother than I am.
We say: She is a wonderful mother who I admire, and I can learn from her. What a gift!
Instead of: I’ll never measure up to her.
We say: God, thank you for bringing this confident woman into my life to inspire me to remember who I am—a daughter of the Most High. Help me receive this assurance, too.
Instead of: She’s always so pulled together, and I'm so far from it.
We say: She’s radiant, God, not because of anything she’s done, but because you carry her. Help me to become the radiant woman you have uniquely designed me to be, and let me cast my burdens upon you.
Instead of: I want what she’s got!
We say: Lord, thank you for all you’ve given me. Help me to be a steward of your gracious gifts. You promise to increase what you’ve entrusted me as I give back to your Kingdom, and to fill my heart with your fruit: joy!
Finally, [sisters], whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. -Philippians 4:8-9
~written by Wendy Connelly
