The first time I remember comparing myself to someone else was in the sixth grade. On my very first history quiz, I got a 10/100. When my “friend” leaned over and saw my unfortunate grade, she informed me that I was an idiot. In that moment, I fell headlong into the trap of comparison.
For quite a while, these stinging thoughts echoed through my middle-schooler brain: She’s smart. You’re dumb. She’s better. You’re worse.
I was playing the comparison game and losing. I wish I could tell you it stopped there. But sadly, that was only the beginning of my comparison journey.
If you’ve lived life for longer than five seconds, I’m sure you’ve found yourself playing the comparison game too. Sometimes you find yourself feeling superior, and other times you find yourself envious. Either way, there is no win in comparison.
So what do we do?
The author of Hebrews writes: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus …” (Hebrews 12:1-2a, NIV).
This paints a picture in my head of a running track. Every person in the world has an individualized track planned for them by God. Each person has a specific track and a specific race they are meant to run. Yours is special and unique to you.
God made you exactly how you are so you could run the race He set just for you. That’s why you don’t need to compare your race, speed, purpose, talents, looks or family with someone else's. Instead, fix your eyes on Jesus and run the race He has for you.
The author of Hebrews tells us how to run our race most successfully: by throwing off the things that are slowing us down. Comparison is a huge hindrance, so let's throw it away — and get back to running our race more easily and effectively.
How do we do this? Here are two ways:
- Celebrate what God has given others. Even when you don’t feel like it, even when they get the thing you want, and even if their win feels like a loss for you … make the conscious choice to celebrate the people who are succeeding around you.
- Leverage what God has given you. Instead of allowing your success to lure you into feeling superior to others, choose to use what you have to help the people around you.
As you do these two things, fix your eyes on Jesus. Remember what He did for you, and rejoice in the race He has set for you. There is no better way to break out of the comparison game!
Dear Father, thank You for creating us individually, each with a purpose and a plan. Help us not to compare ourselves to one another but to run our races by fixing our eyes on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
