Day 157 - The Comparison Trap

Carley Sheppard

“But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” – 1 Corinthians 12:18-21 NASB 1995

“One of the greatest enemies of confidence is comparison.” – Craig Groeschel

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Theodore Roosevelt

In the age of social media, it can be easy to fall into the comparison trap. We can access information at our fingertips with the touch of a button. Carefully selected, beautiful photos constantly surround us. It’s no wonder that many of us begin to feel inadequate.

God blessed me with many things, but He did not give me a voice for singing. I am blessed to be friends with many women on the worship team. It can be easy to compare myself to my friends and wish I had what they have. However, if I wasted my time feeling sorry for myself because I am not gifted with musical talents, I would be throwing away the skills God gave me. If I spent time comparing myself to others, I would not be operating in the role He designed for me.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul reminds us that each of us was designed for a role. He describes the spiritual gifts and then compares the church to a body. Each member provides an important role. The body will only succeed if each member does their part and works together with the other members. Just like you wouldn’t want to leave an arm or an eyeball behind in the parking lot, God wants all of us to operate in our own gifts.

God made us all unique and for a purpose. Knowing your purpose gives you confidence and reminds you that you don’t need to be like anyone else. As you grow in your leadership, you will begin to serve and engage in teamwork. You must be confident in your role and gifts. Once you start leading teams, you must know your team and be confident in their abilities, too.

Next Steps

  • Think about it: When was the last time you compared yourself to someone? How did that make you feel?

  • Think about it: What are your spiritual gifts, and how are you using them?

  • Action Step: Read all of 1 Corinthians 12.

  • Action Step: If you aren’t sure what your gifts are, your next step is to go to Grow! There you will take some personality tests, a spiritual gift assessment, and learn about how you can serve the Kingdom of God. For more information, visit www.dl.church/grow!