The Ugliness of Comparison

Have you ever noticed how woman are always saying, “well my child”, “I wish I could be that skinny”…and on it goes! Maybe I’m the only one who constantly notices what other kids are doing that Klayton isn’t and vice versa or notices how I am so much fatter that someone else at church! It just never stops, the battle of comparison!

As woman we are so driven by our feelings, we don’t control them-they control us. With these feelings controlling us that nasty thing of insecurity rises up and bubbles over. That is really what comparison is all about-insecurity and it starts at a young age.

I remember as a teenager having my first breakout-that never went away! Ha! At first it wasn’t a big deal, when I was in my own bathroom; but then we left the house and all of sudden it felt like all the people with peaches’n’cream skin was noticing my breakout. I just couldn’t stand it, so makeup became my new best friend! The first time I put foundation on, I caked it so much that I had raccoon eyes! I just wanted so bad to cover up the ugliness; but I couldn’t stop insecurity from rearing its ugly head.

Then as I aged and continue to age, my weight-specifically my tummy area became larger than life! And black clothing became my best friend, after all black is the new skinny! I have owned a spanx, I have control top panty hose, skirts that “slim” and who knows what else all in an effort to hide my fat! The insecurities of childhood had grown.
Even becoming a mommy increased my insecurity…well I didn’t call it that right away! Friends that had babies close to Klayton’s age caused me to perk my ear so I could know what their child was doing that maybe Klayton wasn’t and then I would ago home and think of ways to help him along and catch him up! But, then I would also look for ways to brag about what he was doing that their child wasn’t. I was just “comparing”…but actually it was insecurity in how I was doing things.

II Corinthians 10:12, “ For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise.”

I don’t know about you; but out of the two words compare and wise…I would rather be wise. Its so funny to me to realize just how silly I am…okay, its actually kind of pathetic because I am measuring my standard to other human beings that aren’t perfect either!

II Corinthians 10:13, “But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you”.

If we stop and think for a minute often the things we are boasting about or noticing about others to make comparison on isn’t what God notices and doesn’t necessarily have God’s finger of “extra measure” upon. Just because one of Klayton’s buddies is talking and he isn’t doesn’t mean that God looks at him any differently. The same applies to just because I have “extra” body weight on my belly and my church buddies don’t doesn’t mean that God gives more favour to them and just because I think my blemishes make me less beautiful in comparison to my friends doesn’t make me any less beautiful to God.

If we would take time to realize Psalm 139:14, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Our lives would be so much easier and our insecurities would become securities! If the next time I started noticing another persons perfect skin I decided to praise the Lord for making me in the image He has soon sacrificing my insecurity for praise will no longer be a sacrifice because I would believe it! We need to on purpose sacrifice our insecurity, our moments of comparison to praise the Lord! Praise the Lord for the sounds Klayton does make, praise the Lord for the food I do have! I AM fearfully and wonderfully made, this work that God is doing in me is marvelous not because of me; but because of Him!