comparison is the thief of joy

good morning.

this post is a piece of my vulnerable heart.

hope it can connect with you too.

This quote couldn't be more true.

comparison can really be detrimental to our joy.

I have fallen into this trap hard as of recently; on a personal level.

comparing myself to other women around me.

(social media be partially to blame, but that's for another time)

I tend to think sizing ourselves up to other people is more common than not.

It's one of those things that is hard to escape feeling.

For me lately, I've found myself feeling jealous of all the new moms/moms to be.

While I'm thrilled for those around me who are experiencing such a beautiful thing,

I wish that I could feel & live these moments too.

I feel like a chunk of my heart is missing.

I long to be a mom, to have that title, to experience all that it means.

I didn't expect this process to be so complicated.

But then again it's all part of this much bigger plan.

I find myself longing for these roles others have &

I have an overwhelming sense of conviction. 

That I've spent many emotions on things that aren't even at my control.

Comparing is a choice.

 

I sit back & reflect on these longings,

and find rest in the fact that my God knows the desires of my heart.

And His timing is much more perfect that the timing I could ever plan for.

Not saying it's easy, by any means, but knowing that there is hope.

I'm really grateful for this...

 

Comparison takes away from the joy that we experience.

It cuts that all short.

 

The God of the universe created ME.

He knows my thoughts, prayers, and steps even before they happen.

That, my friends, it a truly incredible thing. 

I really love this passage in psalms:

 

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"GOD, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too— your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful— I can’t take it all in!

Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there! If I go underground, you’re there! If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, You’d find me in a minute— you’re already there waiting! Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I’m immersed in the light!” It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day."

 [psalm 139:1-16 msg]

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I came across this chunk of goodness when I was doing a little research on this topic:

"Some relationships move quickly, and others are on a slower trajectory. Maybe you found your life’s calling at 23, or maybe you’re still trying to discover what you’re meant to do.  Maybe starting a family came easily and when you though it would, or maybe you’re still waiting and wondering if it will ever happen.

But the point is every story is unique, and your story, your life is yours. We can get caught up in comparing and contrasting and wondering why God hasn’t done that in our lives or hasn’t answered this prayer.

I read once that “comparison is the thief of joy,” and I come back to that often. My story is mine, and I’m learning to trust God to do His work in my life in His timing, working everything together for His glory. And your story is yours, and God is doing His work in your life, according to His plan for your life. Let’s remind each other of that truth, OK?"

--ashley boyer/ focus on the family/ 

comparison is the theif of joy- article

my story is MINE. and your story is YOURS.
It's time to embrace all that we have,
because each and everything is a true gift from God.

thanks for reading. <3