Comparison is Nothing but a Trap

COMPARISON

 

On a Sunday afternoon a friend shared a music video on Facebook. There were beautiful scenes of rivers flowing, waterfalls, birds flying, sunsets, and more. While I was watching it something dawned on me that wasn’t really such a unique revelation. It just sank in this time. Comparison is a trap.

 

 

I had stepped away for a minute to get something from the kitchen, thinking about how beautiful the video was when suddenly the thought came, You could never do anything so magnificent, so why do you even play around with photography?

 

But right away, it was replaced with the realization that I don’t have to do exactly what they do. Just because someone is better doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try.

 

COMPARISON IS A TRAP

It doesn’t matter if someone does something better, because what others do should not dictate what I should do. I only have to do what I am created to do. We all have unique talents to use in this world. What others do does not dictate what I should do.

I have played the piano since I was a young girl. Whenever I thought I was doing pretty well, I would hear someone else who was better. Then voices in my head would say, You’ll never be as good as they are. 

Oftentimes people have told me how much they love my piano playing and have been blessed by it. I do appreciate that, but so many times the thoughts would come, Someone else can do it better. How can they think I do it so well?

 

COMPARISON REALLY IS A TRAP

 

Then I realized that it doesn’t really matter if someone does it better than I, because we are unique individuals with our own dreams. We all reach different people at different times. I am not a concert pianist in some vast auditorium, but I can still be good at what I do on a smaller scale. What matters is that I do what I am called to do.

Every voice and talent is needed no matter how insignificant you think it might be.

You have something to say or do in your own unique way and no one else can do it quite the same. It doesn’t matter if you think someone says or does it better. What matters is that you say what you need to say and do what you need to do, because you don’t know who will be watching you, who needs to hear or see what you have to offer.

 

YES, COMPARISON IS A TRAP

You won’t reach everybody, but you don’t need to. God gives each of us talents to use for encouraging ourselves and others. So when you hear voices saying to you, Why should I try? So and so does it much better. My voice makes no difference. Pay no attention to them.

Don’t believe the lie that says you shouldn’t even try because someone else can do it better.

 

God did not create us to compare ourselves with others. When we do we often begin to complain and become discouraged. Remember that comparison is a trap. We all have much to give. There are people who need to hear what we say and see what we do even if we think it’s nothing. God oftentimes uses those who think they are small or weak to make His power known to all. We may never know how many people have been blessed by our words and actions. The important thing is to do what we are called to do. We do not need to worry about whether or not we are good enough. God takes our offerings and uses them to bless and encourage others.

 

You may not be that famous writer/artist/musician, but God always notices you.

 

I’m linking up with: #LetUsGrow, #DanceWithJesus, #GiveMeGrace, #TestimonyTuesday, #RaRaLinkup, #TellHisStory

*I originally published this post on my former blog under a different title. I have edited and updated it.*

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