Comparison: The Thief of Joy
One Sunday not long ago, I got home after church and started scrolling through social media. I came across a post mentioning how another church had baptized 15-20 people that day. And I'd like to say that my response was, "Awesome! That's so great to have more people in God's Kingdom." But that wasn't what I thought.
What I actually thought was, "You're not anywhere near as good of a pastor as he is at that church. I mean they baptized like 20 people in one day!"
Instead of celebrating what God had done at our church that day, I just sat on the couch discouraged, depressed, and feeling inferior the rest of the day.
It's been said that "Comparison is the thief of joy," and it certainly lived up to that saying that afternoon. Comparison had successfully stolen my joy and left me discouraged.
We've All Been There
My guess is that you've been there too—caught in comparison's grip as it steals your joy:
Feeling like you don't measure up as a spouse or parent
Comparing your career success to others at work
Looking at others who seem more fit and attractive
As a Christian, thinking others have better gifts or lead bigger ministries
Whatever it is for you, comparison becomes a thief that steals your joy, leaving you feeling insecure, inadequate, and inferior.
There's another side to this too. Sometimes we feel superior to others—better spouses, parents, Christians, or professionals. We swing back and forth on this comparison pendulum, constantly measuring our worth against other people.
That's the real problem. Comparison itself isn't necessarily bad—God can use others to teach us. But when we compare ourselves to find our value and worth, that's when comparison becomes a joy thief.
Why Do We Compare?
To understand why we compare, let's look at Galatians 4:3:
"So, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world."
Paul isn't talking about actual age here. He's referring to our lives before meeting Christ—a time when we were slaves to worldly influences, separated from God by sin.
This goes back to Genesis when sin entered the world through Adam and Eve's disobedience. As a result, we're born spiritually dead, separated from God, and under the control of this sin-cursed world.
If we can't find our value from our Creator, where do we look? At other people! So, Satan uses comparison to trick us into finding our worth by measuring ourselves against others.
This started early. Right after Adam and Eve sinned (Genesis 3), we see their sons Cain and Abel in Genesis 4. When God preferred Abel's offering, Satan twisted what should have been a learning moment into jealousy. Cain felt inferior and ultimately killed his brother.
Right after sin entered the world, we see comparison stealing joy and causing destruction.
God's Solution
But God offers a solution in Galatians 4:4-5:
"But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship."
Jesus came to redeem us from our slavery to sin and things like using comparison to find our value or worth. He fulfilled the law perfectly and paid the penalty for our sin on the cross. When we put our faith in Him, we become sons and daughters of God.
This is huge! Look at verses 6-7:
"And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."
You're no longer a slave to comparison. You're God's beloved child. You have all the value and worth you’ll ever need in being a child of God!
Your New Identity
Here's what changes everything. In Luke 3:21-22, at Jesus' baptism, God said:
"You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
What had Jesus done to make God so proud? Nothing yet! He hadn't healed anyone, taught anything, or performed miracles. God was pleased simply because Jesus was His Son.
If you've placed your faith in Jesus, you are God's son or daughter too. Which means God is pleased with you—not because of your performance or how you compare to others, but simply because you're His child.
This is what frees us from the comparison trap. There's no need to measure yourself against others to find worth because God is already pleased with you just for being His.
God Created You to Be You
In 1 Corinthians 12:18, Paul writes:
"But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be."
God created you to be you! He didn't create you to be someone else. He's pleased with your personality, looks, skills, talents, gifts, and role in His Body. You don't have to perform like others to find value.
When we realize we're free from comparing ourselves for worth, we can step into who God created us to be. It doesn't have to look like everyone else.
The Battle Continues
Even though Christ has freed us, Satan will keep trying to steal our joy through comparison. He'll use social media, school, work, even church to make you focus on others and feel inferior.
But we can fight back by recognizing his lies and replacing them with God's truth. We turn our focus from others back to Christ and who we are in Him.
My Personal Victory
After that discouraging Sunday, I woke up Monday intentionally focusing on Jesus. I read Scripture that reminded me of who I am in Christ. I personalized these truths, said them out loud, and prayed.
I left that time with fresh awareness of my identity in Christ. I felt peace about my place in God's work, regardless of how different it looks from others. Instead of being paralyzed by insecurity, I could participate with Jesus in what He was doing.
Practical Steps
Satan won't stop attacking, so we need to recognize his tactics and maybe change some habits.
If social media triggers comparison, limit your time there. If it's certain relationships or situations, be wise about your exposure. Why give Satan opportunities to steal your joy?
This week, I've scaled back social media and been more intentional about time with Jesus—reading His word, renewing my mind with truth. I've experienced so much more joy as a result.
Your Turn
Can you identify what triggers comparison in your life? Is it social media? Certain relationships? Something else?
Whatever it is, trust Jesus to help you change those habits. Remove the triggers Satan uses to steal your joy.
Instead, spend more time with Jesus. Focus on who He is and all you have in Him. Ask Him to help you experience the joy of your identity in Christ and to celebrate what He's doing through others too.
If you do this, I believe you'll see Jesus restore the joy that comparison tried to steal. You'll begin experiencing who you are in Christ—free from the exhausting cycle of measuring yourself against others and secure in His love for you.
