Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.
Psalm 37:7
Devotional Message
When life feels chaotic or unfair, where the people around you are living the life you desire—be it obtaining a position that fulfills them, a love that envelops them, prosperity that provides for them—we typically resign from active trust in the Lord. We feel envious over what others have or jealous of what they possess, to the point where we begin to question whether that level of divine abundance, heavenly peace, and sacred love is ever possible for us. In these moments, the bitterness and anger in our hearts towards God seem to bubble up, where we begin to question, “Why them and not me? When is it my turn? When will it be my time?”
Anytime we’re in a state of comparison, our peace and joy in God is robbed from us. We focus on others’ circumstances so deeply that all of our spiritual energy goes towards others rather than resting in God and what He has already provided. We forget the blessings that our He has already bestowed upon us, we become fixated on the blessings we have yet to receive, and we worry over never achieving the things that others have that we desire.
Instead of fretting, can you find security in God’s faithful character? Instead of obsessing, can you trust that the Lord will see injustice and handle it in His perfect timing? Instead of impatiently waiting, can you rest in this moment with a deep sense of faith that God is divinely orchestrating things tailored just for you behind the scenes? The psalmist commands us to “rest in the Lord”—not passive resignation, but active trust in His sovereignty. Within the waiting period of receiving your deepest desires and prayers, you can either wallow in envy or dwell in joy and excitement for what God is preparing. Fretting over what others have only brings you farther away from God’s presence and distracts you from focusing on the divine plan He has for your life. Do you even want what others have, or do you crave the sacred feeling that comes with God answering your prayers? What prayers has He already answered? Can you rest in that divine faithfulness?
Let’s Pray
Dear God, today I come to You to ask for guidance on how to stop comparing my journey to others. I know each of our souls are operating on a unique timeline, that we each are on our own paths, and that comparing only robs me of my joy. But it’s really hard for me to maintain faith that I too will receive what others around me already have, and it’s become very isolating as I feel like the lone wolf.
As I aim to rest in Your presence, give me strength to wait patiently without becoming anxious over Your perfect timing. Allow me to feel the freedom that comes from letting go of other people’s circumstances and help me to focus on Your faithfulness instead. Please help me find peace with where I am right now, so that I can be ready to receive all that You have in store for me. Help me remember that You see my heart and that Your timing for my life is perfect, even when I can’t understand it. Amen.
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