As part of my devotional time this morning, I read an inspiring blog post about how to stop comparing ourselves with others and live the life God designed us to live. This is an area I struggle with regularly as I always feel I’m falling behind or missing the mark in various areas of my life.

Evidently, my battle with envy is even more severe than I thought because as I read this dear Christian woman’s blog, I felt myself turning green. This lady has ten children, has written over 70 books, has created numerous videos and classes to help others to grow in their faith, and is younger than I am.

Her site boasted so many helpful articles and devotions I stopped counting. The amount of insightful material she had to offer tugged at my heart. This wasn’t something that was thrown together just to “get it out there.” Everything looked very professional, and each message I read was full of Scripture and great depth.

As I studied how to let go of envy, I grew green over this lady’s success. How does she have everything so together? How does she finish so much writing and still have time to deal with ten kids? How does she balance her personal life and ministry? And why can’t I seem to do that?

My aspirations as a missionary and a writer are so big my mind can hardly contain them. I want to write books, devotions, and classes that help and encourage others. I long to have the words to draw others to Christ. My to-do list reads like War and Peace, and that only includes the things I want to do or see done.

Unfortunately, life seems to get in the way, and those desires get pushed to the side. Housework has to get done. Expense reports are due. Office work appears to be never-ending. The dog needs to be walked. The bills need to be paid. And too often, the back needs extra care and attention. So, the many desires of my heart sit forsaken but not forgotten. It’s enough to make a grown girl fall to pieces. And I have. . .many times.

So, when I face the not-so-jolly green giant of envy, I have to remember a few things.

1) My race is not the same as someone else’s. God created me as I am and has called and equipped me to run the race He has set before me. I was not fashioned to run someone else’s race, and they weren’t fashioned to run mine. I can’t compare my situation to anyone else’s because we’re not running the same race. Our courses are different. Our circumstances vary. Our skill sets and talents were explicitly chosen for us by God. I would do well to keep my eyes on my race instead of looking at everyone else’s.

But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. - I Corinthians 7:17

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. - I Peter 4:10-11

2) I never know the whole story behind someone’s snapshot. It’s easy to make everything look and sound good in a single snippet, but that doesn’t tell us the entire story. We only see what other people want us to see. They’re not going to show us their baggage or the scars they carry with them. Social media is full of photos of beautiful houses, exquisite meals, and cute crafts, but while a picture may be worth a thousand words, it still doesn’t give us all the details. Don’t judge a book by its cover.

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. - I Samuel 16:7

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. - John 7:24

3) Envy never helped anyone. It doesn’t make us feel better or more important. On the contrary, it saps us of strength and purpose. Envy leaves us feeling hopeless and helpless. It steals our joy and leaves us feeling worthless. And in that, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. We’re envious because we think we’re not doing enough, but then we stop doing everything because we’re too busy wallowing in self-pity. Envy is a sin, and like all sin, it is deadly.

A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. - Proverbs 14:30

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. - James 3:14-16

4) Everything has a season. Maybe we haven’t accomplished everything we want to, but we’re not done yet, either. We can give up now or keep working towards our dreams and goals, knowing that the season of fruition may be right around the corner. The season of success (or success in our eyes) may not have come yet, but it could be on its way. We’ll never know if we get bogged down with envy and quit trying. We may have to work harder or plan smarter, but if it’s God’s will, He will help us accomplish it.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: - Ecclesiastes 3:1

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. - I Corinthians 15:58

5) I can’t do this alone. People with big imaginations also tend to have big expectations. I speak from experience. Sometimes, I can get so wrapped up in my expectations that I forget it’s not all about me and what I want. Before going forward, I must ensure I’m pursuing God’s will and not my own. Then, if it is His will, I need to go forward in His strength. I need to seek His wisdom in how and when to proceed, which action steps to take, and how to use my time and energy most efficiently.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. - Isaiah 41:10

6) Never forget to have an attitude of gratitude. Envy causes us to focus on what we don’t have, while gratitude turns our attention to what we do. Envy breeds discontentment and grumbling, while gratitude breeds satisfaction and worship. While we may not have everything we want or think we should have in this life, we have far more than we deserve. We are blessed beyond measure, and keeping that in the forefront of our minds will help us fend off the green-eyed monster.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. - I Thessalonians 5:18

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High: - Psalm 92:1

What about you? Have you battled the green giant of envy lately? Do you see yourself as less than, unloved, or unappreciated? Do you find yourself far behind where you wish you were, yet wanting to do nothing more than curl up in a ball and cry? If so, remember, you’re not alone, and there is hope.

Maybe, like me, you need the reminders I’ve listed here. Sometimes, it just takes a good shift in our perspective to get us back on track, at least for a little while. Then, when the green monster rears his ugly head again, we’ll go back to what we know and remind ourselves again and again until it sticks.  God’s Word is powerful and just what we need for slaying the giants in our lives.