Comparison kills joy. When we scroll through social media and see the perfectly filtered images people pretend their lives are. But what about the moments leading up to the photo? Or the ones following?

How often do we find ourselves comparing our worst moments to the best of someone else’s? We compare our issues with others to make ourselves seem better or not as bad. We look at the pictures instead of the progress. 

We look at the miracles in others lives and question if God is working in ours. We ask ourselves if God could do something for someone else, why wouldn’t He do it for us?

Stop it. This is the easiest way for Satan to distort our view. Just because your life is different from someone else doesn’t mean God isn’t working in yours. We weren’t all made the same way, blessed with the same opportunities, or meant to walk the same paths. Our timing might not look like other people’s timing. Our lives might not look like other people’s lives. But God is still faithful. 

Just because you struggle with something someone else doesn’t understand doesn’t mean God isn’t testing the other person with something else. We spend too much time wondering why our best moments to post on social media doesn’t measure up to someone else’s. Someone has better travel stories, or better pictures, maybe they seem further ahead in life. And we set up pretend competitions like there will be a prize at the end. Don’t give up your joy, stop silently comparing your life to someone else’s. 

“Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.” -Galatians 6:4-5

“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