Comparison KILLS! (Part 1)

Why look to your left, or to your right, when you can look up?

This week was on the more challenging side for me, in regards to my blog. I did a little digging and checked out some other blogs who share my same interests. It felt very empowering and encouraging to see some of the visions God has given me as well, successfully happening for other blogs. It made it even more real to me that my dreams aren't too big and that they are possible to obtain! Of course, I already knew this because I have faith that I can do all things through Christ, but I also believe God gives us confirmation in different ways at times! Unfortunately, after experiencing this great joy, the devil did what he does best, and tried to sneak his way in like a thief in the night.

I pride myself on being transparent, so I'd be lying if I said some of the things he told me at that moment did not ruffle my feathers. Shortly after experiencing this burst of inspiration, I was met with this dark cloud of inadequacy hovering over me and following my every move. I began to compare Hidden Treasures with each of the blogs I read. Picking apart this beautiful gift God has given me piece by piece. I began to critique my amount of followers, my amount of viewers, how my site looks, if I would ever grow, if I should change what I blog about, if I'm thinking too small, if I'm working hard enough, if I should go ahead and start working on things God told me to save for later. If I'm being honest, my mind was in a downward spiral for DAYS! Those who keep up with my Instagram page know I usually don't go a week without posting an inspirational TikTok, or Reel or a "Blog Coming Soon" post. If you go and check right now, you won't find anything for this week. That in itself should show you the type of warfare I was in over here! SMH! All I can say is I am glad I serve a faithful God who cares for me, who see's me, who hear's me, and is always willing to reach out to me to give me the wisdom and understanding I need even during the times I don't even bother to seek it!

God let me wallow in my self pity for a few days before he spoke. And when he spoke, he gave me a lesson of a lifetime. A lesson that I am truly blessed to have learned in the beginning years of Hidden Treasures. A lesson so good, that it is going to take two parts to fully explain. And that lesson is: COMPARISON KILLS!

Comparison Kills CALLINGS!

When God gives us our gifts, they are for us specifically. No matter how similar your gift may seem to the people, places, and things around you, you have to understand that you are still set apart because you are you. There is a uniqueness that comes with the calling God assigns to you. God showed me that it was literally a waste of time to look left and right and compare because I was not called to the things I saw the other blogs had going on, and even if I am, it's not right now, therefore, it's NONE OF MY BUSINESS. That was a run on sentence, I know, but it's a mouthful that needed to be read in one breath! LOL!

Comparison kills callings, because while God is standing right in front of you trying to lead you, pointing to the next direction you need to go in, you are looking every other way but FORWARD! You get so consumed in what is happening everywhere else, that you neglect your calling that God has placed right in front of you. Sometimes we get ourselves in spaces where we begin to desire the things we see working out for others, and we go so hard to get to their level. Before you know it, you're so far gone, you don't realize you left behind the true prize God had for you the entire time. Now your stuck in a vision, dream, or goal that wasn't for you to begin with. So the thing that was supposed to bring you joy, that you were supposed to be passionate about, you can't find peace in. You allowed what you thought you wanted to kill what was actually created for you.

Comparison Kills CONFIDENCE!

When you are constantly comparing what God has given you to the things around you, you will begin to lose confidence in the very thing you've been blessed with. That one thing you were so sure of, that you couldn't stop talking about, that you were on fire for, all of a sudden becomes not good enough. Comparing your worth in any area to anything outside of what has been given to you will always diminish its value. The truth of the matter is, there is always going to be someone walking in the shoes you desire, or doing something you wish to do one day, or living a life you really wish you had. But the more you focus on the things you don't have, the harder it will be to obtain the things you truly want. The Bible tells us that if you are faithful over a few things, God will make you ruler over many things. Can you be confident and take care of what you have now? We compare ourselves and have the desire for so many things we see around us, but would you even be able to maintain the confidence it takes to have those things you want so badly? Many times we see the glory, but don't know the story behind people. Focus and appreciate what is in front of you, the hobby, your body, your business, your hair, your home, the car you drive, your family. Nothing grows without being nurtured. Are you nurturing the things you have in your life now? If not, start today, I promise it will build your confidence to a place where your territory will have no choice but to expand and make room for you!

Comparison Kills CONNECTIONS!

If you are constantly comparing what you have been blessed with to different people and things around you, God has shown me you risk killing connections. Comparison can so easily and naturally bring on a competitive spirit. And if it is not a friendly competition, being competitive with things around you, almost never ends well. When you take on a competitive spirit, it's easy to fall into habits like trying to imitate or duplicate the people, places, and things you feel you are in competition with. This takes you away from the things God has called you to specifically. You'll start putting more effort in everything but what truly needs you the most. You then get yourself in a position where you are looking at this other person, place or thing as a competitor as opposed to a potential connection. Comparison will have you seeing something you like, make you work overtime to find a way to be even better, just to realize yeah you figured out the recipe, but the sauce still doesn't taste the same, if you catch my drift. When on the other side, all it takes is simply reaching out and asking, hey how do you do this, or where did you find that, etc. What I went through this week is a prime example. Instead of piercing my confidence in my blog, I could have reached out to the owners of the blogs I read and asked questions, or even went to God about curiosities. Don't allow comparison to have you miss opportunities to connect with people, places, and things that can elevate you to that next level you desire!

Application

When God blesses you with a goal, dream or a vision it belongs to YOU, and you alone. It doesn't matter how many other people are doing the very thing you are doing, if your vision is from Him, know that he has prepared a place for you to fulfill it. Have peace in knowing, He knows the desires of your heart and will bless you with those desires in His divine timing if it aligns with His will! What you have at this time is what you are supposed to have. Whether it be 2 followers or 2 million followers, you work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people. That is where the favor of God truly kicks in. Don't allow comparison to kill anything else that belongs to you.

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you for the grace and mercy that you give us each and every day. We thank you for being with us and dwelling in us even when we are in the valley. We ask today that you continue to guide us out of comparison. We rebuke the spirit of comparison in our callings, confidence, and connections in Jesus name. We will be all that you have called us to be God. We come against the vices of the enemy today. Open our eyes, oh God, and strengthen our discernment to know when the enemy is near, Lord. We curse any assignment the enemy is planning against us that may discourage us from fulfilling our callings. We curse attacks on our confidence and we curse any plans to break connections. We love you and thank you for all that you are and all that you do! I ask that you continue to cover and keep Hidden Treasures as we continue to Heal, Evolve, and Rise together! AMEN!