Jealousy

I found myself feeling jealous a lot. OK, come on, admit it, you probably feel jealous a lot. It's hard not to be jealous, it seems, in this world. We're always wanting to be prettier and better at everything. Nothing's ever good enough for us. It's like we're told to keep on striving for the rest of our lives, never content to be ourselves. It's hard to be there, always hating what you do and what you look like and wishing with all your might that you were anybody else in the entire world.

A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. ~Proverbs 14:30

 I don't know how many times I've looked into the mirror and thought, "Oh, wow, I wish I was someone else," because I thought I was ugly, or I thought the person I was thinking of was lots prettier. We as girls especially lie to ourselves by saying that only if we were prettier or better or something, then someone would love us. I'm talking about friends, people loving us, parents... whatever. We as humans crave for someone to love us.

And guess what? Someone does. That's the good news.

I know what you're thinking. You've heard this time and time again. You know God loves you. Hopefully you also want to turn from feeling jealous. I know I do. Sometimes it's really hard, especially when you're around girls all the time who you think are beautiful or amazing at something that you wish you were. So how do we change?

You've first got to change your mindset. (Don't worry, so do I--I'm still working on this, too.) You shouldn't try and be like those other people. In fact, it's going to be impossible to be exactly like them. Face it--you're not them. But guess what? You're someone else amazing--yourself. So if we can't be them, then who do we become? We become the amazing person that God wants to make us into. If we keep our eyes off those girls that we think are "perfect" and instead turn them to God, you won't believe the difference. You're never going to turn into a "them" clone, so instead improve yourself as God wants you to be. If you think you should be a better friend, work at being a better friend. If you think that you're too shy, work at being courageous. (I'm personally really shy sometimes. But sometimes you just have to kick those feelings aside and have "ten seconds of courage." Crazy, crazy courage.) Whatever it is, work at it. Become the person God wants you to be. Become someone that you would want to be--someone good and kind and patient and caring and loving.

The only person standing in the way? Yourself.

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. ~James 3:16

Don't be jealous. I know it's hard, but it's wrong. Whenever you feel yourself wanting to be someone else, instead think of God. He created you the way that you are for a reason. Maybe you're the only person who will ever reach that one hard heart. Maybe you're the one who will touch thousands. God has a plan for you that's different from anybody else's. Don't throw away that gift that He's giving you--embrace it.

Be a hero,
Anna

P.S. If you want more help, I would love to pray for you and/or put you on the prayer request list on the sidebar. (I don't have to put "because this person has trouble with jealousy" or anything of the sort. Just like "pray for such-and-so." You can just tell me you want me to pray for you. Prayer is a powerful gift.)