In an arena with 13,000 leaders, it’s easy to feel insecure, insignificant, or even inundated with where you are in life. Spending the last week in Atlanta for Catalyst was an amazing calibration for the how and why of ministry. But if you’re anyone who is walking out leadership in a public arena, it can also be a cesspool of comparison and insecurity.
I had to chance to meet up with a blog reader who opened up about the difficult challenges of student ministry. He began listing off other student ministries who were doing this and that and had bigger budgets and had more students and had more volunteers and more, more, more.
I put my hand on his shoulder as if bracing him for a Cher in Moonstruck moment: Snap out of it! Then I spoke in hushed tones as if I was going to tell him a secret. He leaned in. I spoke. God has a plan… for YOU. It’s going to look the way that He wants it to look, not the way you expect it to look.
We all can fall victim to the evil monster Comparison, but we need to refrain from dancing with this demon because God doesn’t want us to be frustrated and feel unworthy of the blessings He desires to give us.
Comparing our lives with other people’s lives is unfair, to them and to us. It’s unfair to them because if we become jealous of what they have, what they know, how they look, who they’re dating, we start to resent them. Then we can no longer appreciate them as the person God made them to be.
It’s unfair to us because it limits God’s plan for our lives. Comparison says to God, I want to edit Your work in my life to this and nothing else. I just want to be like this other person.
But God has an individual plan for each of us. His plan for us is greater than we could possibly imagine. I’m not spouting this off from a remote ivory tower; I’m walking this out for myself. On Friday I was surrounded by 13,000 leaders. On Saturday I stood among 30 believers in a refurbished barn and reminded myself that the power of God was present in the arena as it was in the barn. I refuse to compare myself to those on large stages; I reject the notion that their calling is greater than or less than mine; I will not believe that I have been dolled out less Holy Spirit power than the rest of humanity.
My boyfriend Paul the Apostle put it this way: Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life [Galatians 6:3-4, said like a BOSS]. Boom!
So dear friends, stop looking at His plans for others so you can walk in the plans He has for you. Whether with 13,000 or 30, just be who you is!
I was wondering where you’ve been..
I think I was totally about to start having withdrawls.. 😉 ..Glad you were blessed and were a blessing to others while you were away..
…and thanks for this, as a new wife still tying to figure out all that my role entails. This is great to hear..
Love ya!!
I usually will blog on the road, but with my one hand still being wonky and in a brace, I need to take it easy. But I’m back and roaring to go! Love you 🙂 XO
I love how you de-mystify the perceptions we have about life, ministry, position, etc – I’m constantly having to remind myself of this very thing you’ve blogged on! Love how you wrote & said it all!
I love you and I am SO blessed to have connected with you again after three years. God is good.
Love you too sister!! 🙂
I needed to read this today. I have a very tough position here at work and after 12 years I don’t feel worthy of it. I I have too much going on both personally and professionally. I have been feeling overwhelmed and out of focus and have been making so many mistakes.Needed this refresher, thanks.
This is by far my FAVORITE videos of yours. No joke, I am pretty sure I can recite it word for word. I always watch it to be reminded that I am SUPPOSED to be different. And this blog, whew. Done did it again girl.
Much love!
xxo
Anneliese
Thank you. You`ve given me hope that even though with my past I am very different/unique/nerdy/weird/hermetess like, God has a place for me…..
With love
C
I love your words as they give us permission to stand in God as we are and to move proudly and courageously in what He has called us to do.
Be blessed,
Monica
So I was at Catalyst and within about 10 feet from you, but you were surrounded by people and I wasn’t going to interrupt. Next year we’ll meet. One thing I learned about you, though, is that you have an incredible gift. I would love to be able to articulate my thoughts and verbalize them as well as you do, but it takes me sitting down and writing them out in order for them to make much sense. Can’t wait for a time when I can just sit and listen to you one of these days!
WHAT?!?!?! HOW did we let this happen? Seriously, I’m beyond bummed I missed you. I couldn’t attend the bloggers meetup because my boss and I had an impromptu meeting that lasted until 10pm 🙁 We will connect one day!
Absolutely. I will be definitely looking forward to it!
I ran across your blog today and I’ve been reading it for the past 2 hours. I love it!! You have such great messages. This one struck a cord with me. When I graduated from high school 5 years ago (sheesh!), I gave the speech at graduation and centered it around Galatians 6:3-4. I think at times we are all guilty of insecurity and comparing ourselves to others- I know I am! But it’s so important to remember that God created us all differenty and with a special purpose. Thanks for shedding light on this and for the reminder!
Thanks for stopping by, Sarah! 🙂