"Comparison Kills Contenment"

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances

    If you came to visit my apartment about a year ago, you would have seen "Comparison kills Contentment" written on my bathroom mirror. I am sure my husband loves my "dry erase marker on our mirror" habit, but it was formed years ago by my wonderful mother! I usually change the verse out about every week; however, this quote from Karen Hunt stayed up on the mirror for almost 6 months, because I found it was something that I constantly needed to be reminded of each and every day.
       If we are honest, most of us have struggled with a comparison at some point in our lives.  It is one of the most difficult things to control, because most of the time we do not intend to compare ourselves to others, it just happens. Whether it is a magazine cover, a post on social media, or even a stranger in the mall, our mind does a quick comparison with just one glance. Before we realize what we are doing, we can identify all the things "she" has that we are missing.
       Comparison is a dangerous spiral to fall into because, we are either tearing ourselves down by wishing for something else, or we are tearing someone else down to boost our confidence. It doesn't matter which category you fall into, comparison is a mind battle that results in hurt and discontentment. If we long to be like or even look like someone else, then our focus is on that other person. If we pick apart someone else's flaws to make ourselves feel better, then we and have placed our focus on ourselves. In both of these situations our focus of life has shifted, even if only for a few moments, it has moved from God to someone else. How can we live for Christ when we shift our focus from Him?
      A few years ago someone told me that "Contentment isn't having what you want, it is wanting what you have." At the time, I wrote those words down because I liked the idea of wanting what I had. I thought that if  I could learn to always want the things I had, then maybe I would never fall into the trap of comparison again. However, I am learning now, that even though wanting what I have is a great thing, it still requires my focus to be on myself. Although, we should always be thankful for the blessings God has given us, He still longs for our focus and desire in life to be on Him and only Him! The key to true satisfaction in our lives is to focus on God.
     Don't waste your beautiful life comparing it to a friend's or even a celebrities life. Nothing they have will make you happy, or fill that longing for contentment. Instead shift your focus off of everything else and place it back on God. He has blessed you with your life and desires for you to spend it focusing on Him.  Find your peace in God, because searching elsewhere for contentment will only lead to a life of exhausting measurements and comparisons. Ask God to help you guard your mind from comparison, and shift your focus back on Him!

Photography by Kimberly Wynn