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Comparison is a Dream Killer

By on March 1, 2014
two mature women talking

Originally Posted On: Inspiring Women to Thrive –

One of the hardest battles we face when dealing with a dream or longing that God gives is that of comparison. It’s easy to think that other people have what we don’t—more talent, more money, more confidence, more spiritual depth, more connections, more, more, more.

The result?

  • If you’re the determined type, you decide to go all out and prove you can do whatever you dream of.
  • If you’re the scaredy cat type, you shake in your boots, convincing yourself it is useless to even try.
  • If you know who you are in Christ: loved, gifted, and called, you follow the DREAM He plants (Philippians 2:13).

Here’s a story that illustrates these responses. See which you resonate with: 

“One morning a gardener found every plant withered and dying. He asked the oak tree what the trouble was. The oak tree said it was tired of life and determined to die because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine tree.

The pine was troubled because it could not bear grapes like the grapevine.

The grapevine was determined to throw its life away because it could not stand erect and produce fruit as large as peaches.

The geranium was fretting because it was not tall and fragrant like the lilac.

And so it went throughout the garden. Yet coming to the violet, he found its face as bright and happy as ever and said,

‘Well, violet, I’m glad to find one brave little flower in the midst of this discouragement. You don’t seem to be the least disheartened.’ The violet responded, ‘No, I’m not. I know I’m small, yet I thought if you wanted an oak or a pine or a peach tree or even a lilac, you would have planted one. Since I knew you wanted a violet, I’m determined to be the best little violet I can be.’

People who are God’s without reservation desire to do for Him whatever He desires.”

(Adapted from Streams in the Desert, entry for Jan.7)

Let’s Talk: Which plant or tree are you like? How do the words “I’m determined to be the best I can be” challenge you?

God has made us with different gifts and dreams. Who are YOU? In my next blog post, I’ll help you gain insights into your uniqueness and what God had built into your life for HIS service.

This post is part of my Daring to DREAM series. Click here to view all the posts in this series.

About Poppy Smith

Born in England to a non-believing family, Poppy grew up there and in Sri Lanka, Singapore and Kenya. She met her American husband in Nairobi and they soon moved to the United States. The adjustment to her new marriage and new country, combined with loneliness and the loss of all that was familiar, brought Poppy to a defining moment with God. The resulting change, from anger to acceptance, from fighting God to seeking Him, led her into a life-long love of Scripture and the One it reveals. Her website: http://www.poppysmith.com/.

2 Comments

  1. Pamela

    March 8, 2014 at 11:00 am

    Wow! I like this story. It makes you realize that you’re not meant to be like others.

    We must live out our life like God wants us to. God has planted within each of us the dream (the life) he wants us to live.

    Thanks for this post.

    Reply

  2. Poppy Smith

    March 15, 2014 at 4:43 pm

    Thanks Pamela for your comment. It’s so important to reject our tendency to compare and forget what God has in mind for our life and blessing. Living out that life is what brings contentment and a fruitful life. Poppy

    Reply

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Comparison is a Dream Killer