Dealing With Comparison (The Thief of Joy)

Comparison has been called the thief of joy — and in the age of social media, it's stronger than ever. Measuring our lives against others' leaves us either proud or discouraged, and always discontent. Here's how to deal with comparison.

You are wonderfully made

The antidote to comparison begins with knowing your own worth in God's eyes: 'I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.' You are not a lesser copy of someone else; you are uniquely and intentionally made by God. Your worth isn't relative to anyone.

Run your own race

The Bible calls us to focus on our own path rather than measuring against others: 'let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.' Comparison distracts us from the good work God has for us. Run your race, not someone else's.

Gratitude and trust

Comparison grows from discontent and a hidden distrust of God's plan for us. The remedy is gratitude — focusing on God's goodness to us rather than what others have — and trusting that his plan for our lives is good, even when it looks different from someone else's.

Dealing with comparison means knowing you are wonderfully and uniquely made by God, running your own race rather than measuring against others, and cultivating gratitude and trust in God's good plan for you. Comparison will always steal your joy; contentment in who God made you sets you free. Look less at others and more at God, and you'll find the peace comparison can never give.