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?
