Relating to God
The trap of comparison.
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“I wish I could worship God like they do.”
I come across this statement often in spiritual direction. I’ve even murmured it myself a few times! We wish we could pray like someone else, or read the Bible like someone else. Perhaps you want to speak up more about Jesus in your life, like someone else in your church. There are all sorts of ways we believe we fall short. Or do we?
If we all did the same thing, how would the Kingdom of God be advanced? Not only that, it would get very boring. Mark Twain said, “Comparison is the thief of joy,” and I agree! God loves variety.
So, what do we do?
I’d like to offer a different perspective.
John Calvin (1509-1564), a father of the early Protestant church, said “the knowledge of God and the knowledge of ourselves are bound together by a mutual tie.” Instead of focusing on what other people do, spend time reflecting on what you do.
Consider these questions to help get you started:
What do you really enjoy doing?
What is something that comes naturally to you?
The last time you felt the presence of God, what were you doing?
Where do you go to seek God?
Where are you gifted?
We don’t do what someone else does, because we were created to be us.
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