Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Comparing Ourselves to Other Women


Remember when I said I wasn’t going to work out?

Well, a good friend of mine introduced me to a new workout called “The Dailey Method.” There are only two words to describe it—“really hard!”

Anyway, I literally got all tangled up and bent out of shape last week while in class. As I gazed around the room in a breathless pant, I noticed everyone was toned and tiny. Apparently, it’s not a good idea to come to this place needing to lose weight. Women twice my age were doing leg squats better than me. Some of these ladies bless their hearts, actually need to visit McDonald’s drive thru a couple times a week like I do.

It appears they all have this mom thing figured out. Their kids in the daycare room don’t have syrupy hair from breakfast. They drive a Lexus and probably don’t have hamburger buns stuffed between the seats. They have their make-up on and hair in place (that is until the death trap of a work-out begins).

Satan quickly plants seeds of untruths in my mind.

I’m tempted.

Jesus girl thoughts get shoved aside by the ugly thoughts moving in. I begin thinking, “If only I could do better. If only my legs were longer. If only I looked as good as she does while doing leg lifts.”

Is it just me or have y’all had similar thoughts?

How often do you compare yourself to other women?

The Bible says we are to be imitators of Christ, NOT each other. Therefore, our ambition should be to imitate Christ…not the girl with buns of steel standing beside us glistening instead of sweating.

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children” Ephesians 5:1 (NLT).

We are to imitate Christ in everything we do. We are to be like Jesus and talk like Jesus while we’re shopping, sweating, or serving. Why? Because we are his baby girls and he wants our actions, our thoughts, and our words to be reflective of him.

Just like the Dailey Method workout is really hard, sometimes it’s hard being a Jesus girl. Imitating Christ and striving to become a P31 woman is down-right hard, especially if you are like me. I can barely sew an Awana patch on my kid’s vest. I don’t usually cook from scratch. I actually love Stouffer lasagna night so I’m not expected to cook. But wait a second…now that I’m thinking about it, I do order my bacon and ham from Tennessee so that counts as bringing my food from afar, right?

So the next time we’re tempted to believe the worst about ourselves, let’s remember that 1Thessalonians 1:6 says imitating Christ won’t be easy. It’s something we strive for. It’s something we can’t do on our own. To be successful, we must be intentional about drawing near to our heavenly daddy so we can become more like him and nobody else.

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11 comments:

  1. First I want to say congrats on trying something new. I think we all have compared ourselves to people. I know I do especially when I go to the gym. I see these little girls who probably wear a size 1 and I would get upset because I use to be that thin. But the Lord told me not to be concern about their weight you be concern about yours and do what is best for you. I like how you said Jesus girls it's hard being that P31 woman but you know what we can do it because we love Jesus. So we don't have to compare ourselves with no one. Now when I go to the gym I don't compare myself to them any longer. What I have found out is they look at me not sure as to why, could it be that they see I am confident within my own workout my own health. Great post!

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  2. I love your post Kelli! It is so hard not to compare ourselves with others. But God made us unique. He created us the way He wanted us. We are not mistakes, we are Jesus girls! Thank you for this encouragement

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  3. I'm horrible at comparing myself to other women. Their faith is stronger than mine, their body looks better, their hair is perfect, their kids are more behaved than mine but if we were them then we wouldn't be unique, God made us unique like Jenifer said and we should step out and be who God made us, He didn't make us to be someone else He made us to be different. (I hope this makes sense haha) Great post thank you so much!

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  4. Your workout sounds fun, NOT! I think this is something that all of us women have to deal with. But I really do desire to be like Jesus, not another woman. I'm learning to be more comfortable in my own skin, cuz Jesus loves me just as I am. Great post!

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  5. Ooooh, I know all about this one, unfortunately. It used to really bother me to see the one mom in town who's actually a personal fitness trainer; tall, blond, Barbie doll smile, Webster's definition of "fit and lean"! But as I've gotten older and matured in Christ, I appreciate how hard she must work at keeping herself up, mothering her 3 children, etc., but I also appreciate the growth and settling in my own skin (like Lisa said) that's taken place. I know more of what I'm about, what I want, and where I'm going. I'm thankful for God's work in me and appreciate His work in others. Hang in there with that gym class. Sounds tough, but even those ladies had to start somewhere :)

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  6. when I catch myself "wishing" I had her arms, butt, thighs...etc... I am often reminded how I feel when I give my children great gifts and they want better.. i feel like I've been slapped in the face,, i feel like they don't appreciate what I have given them, so i try to say "Sorry God, and thank you for MY gifts and name them one by one,,then I think God knows what he's doing. knowing that God loves my bump on my nose and thick thighs makes me smile. Thanks Kelli...P.S your one of those women other women want to look like,,, we are all delirious hahaha!

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  7. So true! We need to be focused on comparing to Him not others as those "others" will falter and sin. Great post!

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  8. I'll just start off by saying that I'd rather starve than exercise!! The girls I work with have started with the 'diets and walking' during lunch time as summer draws near. I just say I'm flabby and happy :-) I try not to compare myself to them, I am happy just like I am. Sure I'd rather not have the flabby tummy and floppy arms, but birthing my 2 boys is worth the stretched out tummy!

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  9. Excellent post Kelli.

    While obviously the comparisons are different for us "men-folk", the temptation to find ourselves wishful for others' circumstances or physique is still there. Thankfully, I have the perfect role model to work towards... Jesus Christ! :-)

    Have a Blessed Day!

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  10. I would like to say I never struggle with this, but I do and it drives me nuts! When I start comparing I have to remember that Christ created me and loves me. I am His beloved child.

    I also have learned that often when we compare ourselves we think they somehow they are "better off" but most of the time we forget that their lives are filled with their own struggles and pain and challenges. We just might not be able to see it.

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  11. The Dailey Method is hard... I cried it was so hard and I won't likely go back, but I'll never give up trying to be more like Him... no matter how hard it gets!

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