When You’re Tempted to Compare

Her kid reads books in two languages. Mine isn’t reading yet. They get the early promotion and amazing duty station. We’re stuck grinding it out here. Their girls sit and play so nicely together. Our home seems to never have a peaceful moment.

Ugh! Comparison. There’s always someone better than us, and usually someone we can look down on. Neither comparison helps us. It’s hard to keep our minds focused on what God has for us—our marriages, our kids, our military careers. He has us on our own paths and pace. Instead of looking at others, we need to stay focused on him.

You, LORD God, have done

many wonderful things,

and you have planned

marvelous things for us.

No one is like you!

I would never be able to tell

all you have done.

Psalm 40:5 (CEV)

When you’re tempted to compare, try a shift. Compare God! Would we rather trust our plans and strategies or his wisdom? Would we really prefer comfort to the adventures he has planned for us? Would we rather have this thing we think we want or God? Would we rather trust our idols or the living, loving, all-powerful Lord?

We can also compare our current concerns to God’s faithfulness in the past, knowing that he never changes. He will remain faithful. We can compare life with him to the way we once lived before Christ, under our own power and schemes. We can compare who God is to the demands of all other gods.

These comparisons will turn our worries into worship, our bitterness into thanksgiving, and our jealousy into joy.

This Thanksgiving season, take time with your family to review all the Lord has done for you. Thank him for this path that you are on, following right behind him.

PRAY

Lord, sometimes it seems like we drew the short stick. But there is no better life than the one with you. Forgive us when we are distrustful and ungrateful. You have great plans for us. And you are truly wonderful and trustworthy. Amen.

TIME TO TALK

Conversation starter for kids: Provides you with questions and prompts to facilitate a time of applicable discussion with children to lead them towards knowing God and His Word more deeply.

Questions: What are some great things God has done for us? For teens: What holds you back from trusting God’s plan for your life?

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help parents expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Read these passages today.

Isaiah 55:8–9

John 21:20–22