The Upper Room Daily Devotion – Saturday, 11 January 2014 - “To
Compare is to Despair” Read Romans 12: 6 We have gifts that differ according
to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7 ministry, in
ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8 the exhorter, in exhortation; the
giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in
cheerfulness.
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve
others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10
(NIV))
I left my Bible study group feeling very small. During our
discussion, my peers had talked about their marriages and careers and how well
things were going. I thought about being single and still looking for a stable
career and became discouraged. “Will I ever have what my friends have?” I asked
God. I heard no answer. Days later I mentioned to my counselor how bad I feel
when I compare myself to others. She told me that to compare is to despair. I
latched on to that truth and started thinking about how I could replace this
destructive pattern of comparisons with a deeper trust that God has a plan for
me and my life. As children of God, we can abandon comparison and hold on to
the truth that each of us has been blessed with individual talents and divine
opportunities that God has given us. When we compare ourselves to others, we
can become disheartened and feel as if we are missing out on good things or
that we are failing to measure up to others’ successes. But if we focus on
Jesus’ teachings, we will be amazed at the part God has created for us to play.
(The Author-Joy E. Miller (Virginia, USA))
Thought for the Day: God’s gifts and purposes for me are good.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for giving us parts to play in your
service. Open our eyes to opportunities each day to be a blessing for others.
Amen.
Prayer focus: Those struggling with insecurity
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