God doesn't want us to Compare ourselves to others

Comparison can be both good and bad. Bad in that it takes away our joy and creates envy insecurities and much more negative thoughts. Good in that it helps and encourages us to become more like the saints, Mary, Jesus, and God. When we look at other people we often think that they are better than us in some ways, or that they have it easier, or even that they are holier than we are. Some people even think that they are better than others that they are above other people. We all have these thoughts at one time in our lives, but they are all lies and do not come from God; they come from the enemy.

The Devil wants us to compare ourselves to others, so as to slow down our journey to holiness, and our service to God. Because when we compare we start to think our service isn't good enough or we think we aren't making a difference, which isn't true. God puts us on the path that best benefits us, not the path that makes us look good in the eyes of the world. If we want acceptance or reassurance of the path we are on we must look to God, for that not the world. God is who we are working for and serving.

Now when we look at someone else and compare it only brings despair, and envy; because from where we see it their path looks easier smoother, and they appear to get more rewards, but we do not see them like God sees them. We see their faith, good works laughter, and trust in God, but God sees their tears, struggles, their sadness and their times of discouragement. We have to remember we only see what others let us see; we don't know everything unless they tell us. This is also the reason we cannot judge as we hear in today's Gospel (Matthew 7:1-5):

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Stop judging, that you may not be judged.
For as you judge, so will you be judged,
and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’
while the wooden beam is in your eye?
You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”

We all judge and compare it is part of our human condition, but God is asking us to leave the judgement to him, and to live for him not the world. Judgement and Comparison are two heavy crosses we all have to bear at one time or another, and so to counteract these thoughts God gives us the graces we need.

So, whether we are putting ourselves down, or holding ourselves too high above others God is waiting for us to abandon those ways, and come back to him humbly, and keep working for only his glory in all that we do.

Here is "HAPPINESS" by NEEDTOBREATHE

Thank You Lord for always reminding us we cannot be happy and envious at the same time. Help us to become more like you, and Mary, and the saints. Give us to grace to stop judging others and comparing ourselves to others. Shed your mercy, on all of us, and help us to abandon our previous ways.

God Bless,

Sarah