Comparison

Comparison has the power to destroy us from the inside out, and with social media, a timeline of comparisons is right at our fingertips. Even though I’ve seen the internet do incredible things like start charities for those in need, and make people smile, and give some encouragement when it’s needed, other aspects of social media can weigh some heavy burdens on our hearts. They can tell us lies about who we were, who we are, who we will be, and who we’re supposed to be. And if you’re not careful, you’ll start to believe every single one of them.

You may start to see certain trends in all those posts and start to wonder, is this what I need to look like? Is this what I need to say? Is this what I need to do? Is this what I need to wear? Do I need what they have? Should I post this? Should I follow him? Should I follow her? Why wasn’t I invited to that? I wonder if this will finally make them like me.

We think we have to meet these standards of social media, and through our accounts, we attempt to create a person worthy of those standards. But we don’t have to! We shouldn’t care about their standards, and I hope you don’t.

When you face God, He won’t look at the person you’ve created yourself to be on social media. He won’t look at your Instagram, or your Twitter, or your Facebook. He won’t look at the likes on your pictures, or the number of followers you have. None of that defines you.

Your worth is not based upon the number of followers you have. Jesus only had twelve. He wants to know you.

By that I mean He wants to know the real you. Not your Instagram profile. Not your twitter feed. Not your Facebook timeline. He wants to know the real you. Not who you want to be, but who you really are.

So stop the comparison! When we stop comparing ourselves to others, we get to look at who God says we are.

God says we are powerful. God says we are strong. God says we are the light of the world. We were made in His image. We are not mistakes. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. His thoughts of us cannot be numbered. God says we are beautiful. We are His prized possessions, more precious than diamonds. God says we are His children.

The Father has lavished His love on you. He adores you!

Forget the standards. Forget who you’re “supposed” to be. You don’t have to be who they say you should be. Be you, and don’t worry about how others define you, because you are a child of God. You are a child of the God of the universe.

God has given you a specific calling, so don’t waste your time trying to live out someone else’s. No one’s life is perfect. Don’t forget there’s pain between those pictures. They’re showing you the parts of their lives they want you to see. Everything else is blinded to you, so have heart. Don’t try and live a life that isn’t real; don’t live a life that’s not your own.

Live out the calling you have received, and don’t let their judgements stop you.

You’re not who they say you are. You’re not your Instagram profile. You’re not who the image you’ve created for yourself.

You are a child of God who is deeply cherished, loved, and adored.

There’s nothing like His love, and He loves you more than anything.