Weekend Worship—Don’t Get Caught in The Comparison Trap

. . . He says, “Don’t be afraid, because I have saved you. I have called you by name, and you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1

Image credit: iqoncept / 123RF Stock Photo

I just finished a wonderful weekend at the Carolina Christian Writers Conference. But there was something I noticed while I was there. We writers are way too hard on ourselves. We’re constantly comparing ourselves to each other. No matter where we are in our career, we’re always looking at the person ahead of us.

We need to quit looking ahead and start looking up.

It’s easy to get caught up in the comparison mentality. There’s so much about our industry that depends on the opinions of others. We check to see how many views our articles get, how many followers our blogs have, and/or how many stars the reviewer gave our latest book.

These things can undermine and sometimes even totally destroy our perspective, not to mention our confidence. Because, let’s face it, there is always someone willing to point out what we did wrong or could have done better. 

If we’re not careful, we can get to the point where we value what others are saying about us more than what God is doing through us.

So how do we stay focused in this crazy writing world where everyone seems altogether too eager to pass judgment? I think the key to thriving in this hyper-competitive environment is to keep focused on what and especially on WHO truly matters. And remember that HE knows my name. God doesn’t just recognize my face, He knows my character.

I’ve found that only when I focus God’s word and His opinion, my heart stays safe and protected. That’s when I’m insulated from a worldly perspective determined to destroy anything God has called good.