Conquering Comparison Day Four
A 5- Day Study for Women Trapped by the Lie of Comparison
Have you ever felt like you just can’t measure up? The perfect Instagram pictures, the immaculate designer home, the elaborate vacations, the thriving career. Why does it seem so impossible to just keep up let alone thrive? Join me on this 5-day journey to break free from the trap of comparison, leave the social media highlight reels behind, and live the abundant life God has waiting for you.
Welcome back, ladies! I hope you have spent some time in prayer this week as we have moved along in our study on conquering comparison. As you continue growing in your relationship with the Lord you will get to see how you are made in His image, get to know those gifts and talents we talked about, and see how he can use are individual callings for His purpose.
Today we are going to take a look at our Bibles in the Book of Numbers. After God brought the Israelites out of slavery and then to Mt. Sinai where he made a covenant with them (which they broke) they stayed for one year. They then start on their journey to the promised land, the land of milk and honey, Canaan. On their journey, the people started complaining about being hungry and wanted to return to Egypt! After traveling they end up in the wilderness of Paran, which is about halfway to the Promised Land. At this time God tells Moses to send 12 spies (one from each tribe) to check out Canaan. The spies arrive and see that the land is everything and more than God had promised. They also found that there were some very intimidating people living there. Let’s take a look at Numbers 13: 27-28, “They reported to Moses, “We went into the land where you sent us. Indeed it is flowing with milk and honey, and here is some of its fruit. 28 However, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We also saw the descendants of Anak there.” (CSB)
Despite the people living there two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, believed they could take possession of the land just as God had instructed them. “Then Caleb quieted the people in the presence of Moses and said, “Let’s go up now and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it!” Numbers 13:30 (CSB). They knew God would be with them, so anything was possible. They had faith in God’s plan.
Unfortunately, the other ten spies did not have the same faith or confidence in what God was telling them. Numbers 13:31 “But the men who had gone up with him responded, “We can’t attack the people because they are stronger than we are!” (CSB). This placed immense fear and doubt in the others, and they wanted to leave and return to Egypt. Moses interceded on behalf of the people and God ultimately gave them what they wanted but at a cost. They didn’t have to enter the land he had promised but now they would be stuck wandering in the wilderness for forty years. Their children’s generation would be the only Israelites allowed to enter the land God had prepared and promised for them.
Sis, I can’t help but think of how many times we have allowed ourselves to be like those 10 doubtful spies. We know God is calling us to do something, to start that ministry, to step back from a job to stay home, to try a new church, to start that business, or whatever it may be for you. We know what he has in store for us is curated just for us. We know we can do all things with Him. Yet, no matter how God answers us and how much good he has waiting for us we let doubt, fear, lies of the enemy, and comparison to others creep in and stop us from being obedient to God. Just like the Israelites, we see others doing something and we think we cannot do it as well as they do. We feel like we are not as strong as them, not as smart, not as pretty, not as wealthy, not as many followers, not as many opportunities, not as many connections, just not as good as others. Then instead of stepping into the calling God has ordained for us we step back. We return to what we know as comfortable even if it is not good for us. We allow the comparison of others’ strengths to our weak areas to stop us from obeying the God that not only knows us but specifically created us for a unique calling that he knows without a doubt we can do. We just have to show up. Trust in God and have faith in who He is and what He says. Stop letting comparison take you back where you started and keep you from flourishing in the calling God has placed on your life.
Let’s Pray
Dear God,
Forgive us when we are like the Israelites allowing comparison of others to hold us back from what you have called us to do. Lord, we thank you for your unconditional love and unending grace that constantly gives us another chance. Help us to recognize our disobedience by allowing the comparison to others to stop us from what you have created us for and called us to do.
In Jesus’ Holy name, Amen.
Megan Wurzelbacher
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved