We all compare ourselves to others, or at least most of us do. I’m not as pretty as that girl. I’m not as athletic as he is. I don’t dress as well as they do. My kids aren’t as well-behaved. I wish I was more organized, more fit and trim…
And that’s only the physical aspect of life. The comparison game can happen just as easily in the spiritual side of life. Growing up in the shadow of Craig and Donna Nelson was not easy 😉 Believe me, I understand the spiritual comparison game way too well.
But, do you ever stop and think back to where you were before? Do you ever stop and thank God for the changes that have occurred in your life? Awhile back I was frustrated and told Bryan – I don’t see God moving in my life. I don’t see me changing at all!
But guess what, regardless of how I feel and what I see or don’t see God’s word promises to me that I am changing, that you are changing. That the God who starts us on this path will finish what He has begun.
I thank my God every time I remember you (true believer). In all my prayers for you I always pray with joy bc of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this that He who began a good work in you (true believer) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil 1:3-6)
In one sense it’s not up to me. Yes, I can HELP, ENCOURAGE, and even INFLUENCE the process by spending time in prayer, reading and memorizing Scripture, being a part of Church, getting involved in ministry, tithing, controlling my thoughts… Things like that.
But, just as a baby cannot help but grow even though she does nothing to make it happen – IF you are a child of the Father you will grow. You are alive in Him and living things grow. It’s the way God created the world to work.
So be encouraged today. We will not always be this way! We will not always struggle with these sins. We will not always lack the faith, the courage, the words, the wisdom. God is faithful even when we are faithless. He is the One who is overseeing our growth and He happens to be an expert at making things grow. We who are in Christ are becoming more Christ-like and one day, we will be complete in Him. Amen!