How to Overcome Comparison in an Increasingly Media Filled World
“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.”
2 Corinthians 10:12
As commonly expressed in Christian culture, comparison is the thief of all joy. It can so quickly rob us of understanding who we are in Christ and who he made us to be. I also do not think it matters how old you are, you at some point or another find yourself comparing yourself to someone else, whether that be because of looks, success, the amount of friends someone has, or the vacations they are taking. It is a very common experience in our modern world with so much at our fingertips. If you are anything like me you have found comparison to be your biggest companion. If we do not grab hold of it and control it, it can become a form of pride and become contradictory to our beliefs. Here are a few ways of combating the enemies’ lies that I have found to be the most helpful:
- Learn more about who you are in Christ
It is quite simple, really, when you think about reading the word of God and reading verses like “She is worth more than rubies”. But it can be harder than it looks to fully understand and grasp this. Satan can have me believing that he meant that for everyone but me. But the more you read and the more you memorize, the more words you will have to give the enemy. It can take time and it is definitely not a black and white concept. I have been working for years and years to find ways to overcome these thoughts. But as I begin to think about it in simple terms, I realize I am becoming susceptible to pride very quickly. The more I am thinking about who I am in comparison to someone else, I am simply looking for ways that I am better than them. If all of my time is focused on making myself look better, I am taking too much time for myself and not really grasping what Christ says about me in his word.
- Limiting social media
This is so cliche, and your mom has probably told you this one, but beginning to separate yourself from the grips of social media is the next major step in feeling free from comparison. As we know but often fail to remember, social media is a highlight reel that does not include the bad and the ugly. It shouts “hey look at me and how great I am”. Imagine if everyone posted what was really going on in their life, or they posted the first picture they took, unfiltered. How much healthier we would be as a society. Don’t get me wrong, I am guilty of spending way too long on a caption that sounds “good” or editing my pictures to make sure they are ✨cohesive✨ with my instagram page. But all that is doing is wasting your time. Why do we so often crave approval from the world when we already have approval from the creator of the universe? Think about that. Remember that next time you are so caught up in making yourself look appealing to the world. Because ultimately, it is a waste of time when your heavenly father sees you as his child!
- Living out God’s purpose for your life!
It is so incredibly important to remember that you were put here because God knew he needed one of you. You were given a specific purpose and a specific calling to live out each and every day. That being said, if you waste your time scrolling and thinking about yourself as less than, you are limiting yourself and what God has for you. Ultimately, you are not going to be able to live out your life the way God wants you to. My advice would be to pray and ask God to make it clear what he has gifted you with. Each and every one of you have been given a specific purpose that cannot be fulfilled by another. There is no reason to compare yourself to someone else when you remember the ways in which God has blessed you in a specific area!
Comparison is the thief of all joy. It robs you of life. God did not put us on this earth to compare ourselves to one another. No, he put us on this earth to fulfill his specific purpose. Our lives are not merely something we examine within a screen. Rather, life is a gift that should never be taken for granted. Live each and every day with the thought in mind that you are a child of God, and see h0w your life is changed for the better!
