You play the comparison game every day, don’t you? At work, on social media, in the checkout line, even at church. You compare your body, hair, clothes, kids, parenting skills, job, talents, accomplishments, house, cars . . . everything.
The problem with playing the comparison game is that you lose every. single. time.
Comparison breeds feelings deep in your heart that say you don’t measure up, you’re inferior, you’ll never be as good as . . . Those feelings prevent you from seeing the person God created you to be. Comparisons focus on the seeming perfection of others, leaving the meditations of your heart stuck between unworthy and defeated.
Instead of looking to others to determine your worth, look in the mirror and see the truth about who God says you are.
God says you are beautiful.
The world tells us that beauty is determined by numbers: the scale, the size of your jeans, or the years shown on your face. But the Bible tells us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” (Romans 12:2a). Instead of conceding to the idea that beauty is determined by numbers, allow the Lord to renew your mind, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Peter 3:3-4). May you see the unfading beauty of the Lord in your heart, let it shine brighter than any number the world tells you is important.
God says you are loved.
So loved, in fact, that He created a plan for your salvation. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4, emphasis mine). You are loved so much that God’s only son died so you might receive saving grace. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). You are a friend of Jesus; He laid down his life for you. Let that soak into your soul. Absorb it. Let that pure, saving, undeserved love be the meditation of your heart.
God says you are valued.
Not only are you a beautiful, beloved friend of Jesus, but you are also one of His sheep. You are valuable enough that He will leave the 99 to search for you, and upon finding you, lift you onto his shoulders and rejoice (Luke 15:4-5). In John 10:27-28 Jesus says this, “[You] hear my voice, and I know [you], and [you] follow me. I give [you] eternal life, and [you] will never perish, and no one will snatch [you] out of my hand.” Jesus knows YOU, He knows YOUR name. He will search for YOU until you're found. He holds YOU so tightly in his hands that no one can snatch you away. Focus your heart on the value found in the hands of Jesus.
So, my beautiful, loved, and valued friend, today I pray that your heart is full. I pray that you fight the temptation to compare. Stop looking around and, instead, look inside. Plant these truths deep in your heart: you are beautiful, you are loved, and you are valued. May these be the meditations of your heart.