By Jordy van Gaalen & Payton DeVencenty

Wisdom in the Battle

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this Soundcloud link.

Welcome to today’s devotion, a collaboration between Jordy van Gaalen and Payton DeVencenty. We are excited to have you join us as we dive into the questions we might be afraid to ask and the grace Jesus has to offer.

Jesus… I use other women’s lives as a benchmark for my own success. I grow weary, basing my value on how I measure up on this self-created scale qualifying talent, beauty, and relationships. How do I find my self-worth and still rejoice in the gifts of other women, without it being a constant competition?

If only you knew how often I have watched this battle within you. How often I have watched this comparison fight and shouted my Word to you from my heart. My enemy, oh how much my enemy has done to you simply by turning your eyes away from mine and towards the eyes of those next to you. Do you know what the wisdom is in comparing yourself?

But I will simply slip by unnoticed. I will get lost in the shuffle. I will lose out on opportunities and relationships. How will I gain any success or make it to where I want to be?

There is no wisdom in comparing yourself… even if it feels good in the moment. There is no wisdom in comparing yourself to the success or relationships of others, because that is not the path I have made for you. There is no wisdom in comparing yourself to missed opportunities, especially those that others have ceased, because there would be no wisdom from Me in sending all my workers to the same place. Right?

I want to be certain that I am doing things “right.” I want to have value. I want to have worth. I want to be sought after. 

Paul, a servant of mine whom you probably know from writing many of the letters in the Bible, knew just what comparison could do. That is why he said “we do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” (2 Cor 10:12). Your longing to be sought after, to have value, is one of the deepest longings of all humanity. When you compare yourself to the imagined lives of others, you will always feel abandoned and worthless. But if you see my truth, if you see my story, you will understand that even for the one lost sheep I will leave the ninety-nine others to find it. I will find you. I love you. 

Jesus, may I find rest in your presence today. May I know that my value and worth come from you and you alone. Turn my eyes to your truth and your persevering love. I pray that you would speak words of life and wisdom into my soul.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran, Colorado Springs