I am going to just jump right in on this post because, to be honest, there is just no palatable way to discuss the issue of jealousy. There is also no way I can avoid addressing the topic, especially while acknowledging issues related to infertility. So, let’s just go ahead and get into the down and dirty of the whole situation!
· Another friend called last night and told you she is pregnant, and a part of you wants to throw the phone across the room and scream “WHY NOT ME”!?!
· You receive yet another, of what feels like a 1,000, baby shower invitations, and you fall to the ground sobbing, overwhelmed with the thought that a baby may never be in your future.
· While perusing Facebook you notice most of your friends are working on their “next” baby and building onto their already existing families (as you sit on the couch, wishing, enviously, sinking into a pit of gloom).
· And I won’t even mention Mother’s Day & baby dedications, right?
But if I am honest with myself and you, I know I have felt these feelings before. I mean seriously, think about it. There were brand name whatevers in Jr. High/ High School, the GPA, boyfriend, & reputation of college, then there was grad-school, the perfect internship, or job after college, and now it is houses, babies, and on and on it goes. My mom has been known to say, “as you get older the toys just get bigger (maybe a little more serious), but the desire is still pretty much the same... I want what she has!” Maybe my mom has a point.
Somehow in the midst of me not getting what I want, I begin to think; “if she didn’t get _____, I might have a shot at getting ______.” I am sure we all know logically this is not the case (God has not run out of the babies HE CREATES), but somehow it just feels like when someone else gets a blessing ~ God has one less blessing for grabs. Hummm… Sounds a little bit like control, right? When will I get it??? God does not play favorites, God does not run out of good gifts for His children (Matt. 7:9-11), and I CANNOT CONTROL THIS/HIS PLAN (Prov. 16:9)!
As I sit here tonight, three stories immediately came to mind of human beings in scripture who compared their situation to others, and you want to know the weirdest thing? They shared their life, expectations, and feelings of being overlooked with GOD & Jesus Himself… Now that takes guts! I wonder what He would say to me if I did the same?
Cain
3 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. 4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; 5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” 8 Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. ~ Genesis 4:3-8
Martha
38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her. ~Luke 10:38-42
Peter
After breakfast… Jesus said, signifying by what kind of death he (Peter) would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me! 20 Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” ~John 21:19-22
I see three ways the above passages connect when dealing with comparison and jealousy. In fact, it is almost like God was trying to say something to me – HA.
Today's Focus:
- My Countenance is My Choice – Countenance can be defined as; 1) the appearance of the human face, 2) ones demeanor, OR 3) to favor/ approve. Personally, I see a strong connection between the power of YOUR choice (mentioned 5x), in controlling your countenance, AND the behavior that follows.
- Keep my eye on the prize (JESUS) - Only one thing is necessary (only one thing actually helps), sitting in Jesus presence.
- Stop turning back to look/ask about other people – God wants to talk with me about what He wants me to do/be not what He wants other people to do/be.
Excerpt from, The Boy and His Horse by C.S. Lewis:
“I do think” said Shasta, “that I must be the most unfortunate boy that ever lived in the whole world. Everything goes right for everyone except me.”
(He then notices something walking beside him in the dark)
“Who are you?!”
“One who has waited long for you to speak,”
“You’re not something dead are you? Oh please-please go away. What harm have I ever done you? Oh, I am the unluckiest person in the whole world!”
Once more he felt the warm breath of the Thing on his hand and face.
“There” it said, “that is not the breath of a ghost. Tell me your sorrows.”
(And Shasta continues to tell him, all that has gone wrong).
…I do not call you unfortunate,” said the Large Voice.
“Don’t you think it was bad luck to meet with so many lions?” Said Shasta.
“There was only one lion.” Said the Voice.
“What on earth do you mean? I’ve just told you there were at least two the first night, and-“
“There was only one: but he was swift of foot.”
“How do you know?”
“I was the lion.” And as Shasta gaped with open mouth and said nothing, the Voice continued.
“I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the Horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you.”
“Then it was you who wounded Aravis?”
“It was I.”
“But what for?”
“Child,” Said the Voice, “I am telling you your story, not hers. I tell no one any story but his own.”
