There’s just something about the over usage of social media that ultimately leads to comparison.
I’ve come across a lot of thoughts on this topic in the past but never paid much attention because I didn’t think it was relevant to me.
I didn’t compare my life to the edited snippets others posted of their lives because I knew they were edited snippets. I was using Facebook primarily at the time. Truth be told, most of the people I followed then were friends in real life. I knew them and their lives off the screen. I was for them. Comparing any part of their life to mine seemed nonsensical, like comparing apples to oranges.
But now, I have a public account on Instagram and follow other public accounts; people that inspire me but who I don’t really know. A few weeks ago, I found myself needlessly looking at the work of others – the art and ministry they’ve created – and seeing mine as less in comparison. This, of course, led to a struggle with discouragement.
That’s right, as an Encourager, I still battle discouragement myself from time to time. Bring on the chocolate! No. I had to scale back my time on social media to lessen the noise on my brain in order to refocus. Then, I put on some worship music and turned to His word.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good… God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted. And if they were all the same part, where would the body be?
1 Corinthians 12:4-7,18-20
So, we are all created for a purpose and uniquely gifted to accomplish it through Him.
Instead of comparing, we should celebrate and be encouraged when we see others using their gifts, abilities, passions and experiences for the common good. And we should use ours accordingly. Don’t minimize our contributions; self criticism is really criticism of our maker.
I’m a star, you’re a star! We’re all made to shine.
We won’t do so in the same way but we were all made to be vessels to radiate light – His light. Instead of comparing each other’s gifts, let’s cheer each other on!
By the way, if you don’t know your spiritual gifts, you’re likely already using them but check out this link here for more info. It’s an article by LifeWay that has a description of the gifts and some assessment tools.
