When I am able to think clearly, I know that success is achieved when I am doing what I know I ought to be doing. And when I am thinking clearly, I know that my success is not in competition with other people’s success. But when I am not thinking clearly… Well, that’s a different story.
When I am not thinking clearly, I feel threatened by others. When I am not thinking clearly, I feel insecure, and easily offended. When I am not thinking clearly, I feel jealous of the things other people are doing. When I am not thinking clearly, I start competing with others in a competition they never signed up for.
When I am not thinking clearly, I start competing with others in a competition they never signed up for. Click To Tweet
When I am not thinking clearly, it is most likely because my life is out of balance. Being out of balance is a dangerous place to be. When I am out of balance I neglect my health, my thoughts, and my heart. And when I neglect my heart, I start listening to all the lies that the enemy is whispering. And the lie that is whispered most often is that I am not enough to be used by the Lord. Others have more talent, have better connections, have different opportunities. And I begin to believe that I am wasting my time.
I have a passion for encouraging women to be free from the very thing I am struggling with. I believe that we are most beautiful, and most radiant when we are being who we are created to be. When we are confidently living out our unique passions, with our unique abilities, then we are experiencing true freedom. But when we listen to those lies, then we have become insecure, enslaved within our own prisons.
Recently, this is where I was. I was imprisoned in my own self-doubt, and self-pity. Because I had neglected the truth, the lies took over. I began feeling jealous of what others were doing, and offended that I was not a part of something I believed I had a right to. I had become focused on myself, and what I was (and was not) doing. My focus was not on what the Lord was doing. I was asking Him to join me in my endeavors and my ambitions, rather than asking where He was already working. And He is always working, and always looking for workers. But the workers are to be glorifying the Lord, not seeking their own glory.
The Lord is faithful. Gently, I was reminded that although He cares about me deeply, it is not about me. It is not about my creativity. It is not about the people I know. It is not about my involvement. It’s about Him.
I once heard the statement, “Her success is not your failure,” meaning, don’t compare yourself to others. But as followers of Christ, this goes one step further. My belief is, “Her success is my success!” We are on the same team, and our objective is to make Christ known, and to glorify the Lord. The Lord gives each of us talents and a mission to be passionate about. We work together to strengthen the church and impact others.
Her success IS my success! Click To Tweet
Now that balance has been restored and my focus has been shifted off of myself, I rejoice when I hear about others who are sharing this pursuit of making Him and His truth known. No longer am I weighed down with feeling insecure, or offended. I know that I am not the only one the Lord has given this mission to. I want everyone to experience the freedom of being confident, knowing they are being who they were created to be. The more people sharing this truth, the quicker we will all be set free.
Your turn…
Do you compare yourself to others? Do you find yourself in a competition that no one signed up for? How will you eliminate this competition?
I have recently blogged something similar. Not about competition, but about the negative thoughts that satan uses to keep us down while we are in the middle of waiting on God’s timing for our own lives. It’s really a powerful weapon, but satan cannot take away our calling. He has no power to hold us back that we don’t freely give him. I love this statement you made, “I believe that we are most beautiful, and most radiant when we are being who we are created to be. When we are confidently living out our unique passions, with our unique abilities, then we are experiencing true freedom.” YES!!! That’s what it’s all about. Confidence. Not in ourselves, but in the One who made us to be the unique women we are. Thank you. Great blog post.
Thank you Laura! The enemy can be quite deceptive, but you are right, he has no power! I read your post about waiting, and I’m looking forward to see how this has been fulfilled in your life!!
Amen and amen! Gosh this is such a hard one. I struggle with the same thing– always turning everything into a game that no one wants to play! God has been lovingly guiding me back to my own lane to run my own race, and like you said, we are most free when we are being who God called us to be ❤️ Thank you for this beautiful reminder!
Thank you Kaitlin, I’m glad you enjoyed it! And I love the image of running in your own lane. I love any running analogy!!
Yes, I definitely struggle with competition/comparison. It’s so hard to look at others and see how much success they seem to be having when you aren’t. However, I know that we each have our own callings and God uses us each differently. When I allow that truth to wash over me, I’m okay. It’s like you said when we allow the lies to come in, then we aren’t okay.
Yes, keep fighting the lies! They can destroy us!!
My thought processes run very similar to yours. When I’m in the right frame of mind, I am legitimately happy for other’s successes and encourage them along. But there are times when the things I want for myself seem to be happening to someone else. I need reminders all the time of the right way I should choose. Thank you!
It’s difficult for sure. And yes, I need reminders constantly. Constantly filling my mind and heart with truth!