5 Faith-Based Ways to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
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The comparison game is the worst, isn’t it? As wonderful a blessing social media can be for staying connected to loved ones, it can be a curse, too. It takes us into other people’s houses and even right in the middle of their vacations, making us want what we can’t have.
Comparison and envy can also be a form of idolatry: rejecting the Lord in favor of some other supposed solution or happiness-bringer, some seemingly wonderful earthly item we believe will solve our problems and bring us joy.
In the Ten Commandments that God gave Moses on top of Mount Sinai, God commanded, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3), and “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. … your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor” (20:17).
Coveting violates God’s Law and can be a form of idolatry—and the consequences are real.
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Earthly things can’t bring us joy. Take a look at the number of miserable millionaires (and billionaires) who have most any material item they wish at their fingertips, and they’ll confirm its truth.
Jesus offers something far better (and longer lasting): peace.
As He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).
And as we’re told by the apostle Paul in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
The deep, most important truth is that things don’t equate joy. People don’t equate joy. Our hope in God is what leads to joy and transforms the relationships in our lives.
So be present in the moment. As God urges in Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Be still and enjoy all we have right now. The air in our lungs. The sunset on the horizon. The dog or cat at our feet.
As Romans 8:5 advises, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”
Set your mind on the Spirit and have the true path to joy.
If countering comparison with these five truths doesn’t help, consider other measures, like stepping away from social media with a “social media fast” or by putting time limits on how often you go on, gauging your reaction after each session. If you go on a particular social media platform and notice you come away feeling poorly about yourself or wanting to restrict food or go shopping for things you think you “need” to have, this could indicate a problem with comparison.
Remember: Even Jesus needed a respite. He regularly took time away to pray and be alone, whether going into the wilderness for 40 days after His baptism or heading out to pray after a miracle or when the crowds pressed in.
You, too, might need to step away for an hour, a day, or a season. Pray on it and see what God might be calling you to do.
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