Look Up!

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help?”

– Psalm 121:1

Look at the beautiful scenery in the picture above. Doesn’t it give you a sense of peace?

Looking at the clouds always makes me think of God and fills me with awe and wonder. He has created so many beautiful things that we just can’t explain.

So why do we want to spend our days comparing ourselves to others?

Why do we waste time trying to keep up with others when we miss out on appreciating the things God has created for us to enjoy?

Too many times I spend time comparing myself to others. During these times, I feel inadequate. I question if I should be doing more.

In a world filled with consumerism and the goal of achieving the “American Dream”, it is hard not to compare. But does that mean we should? No!

Focusing on what others have leads us to idolatry, discontent, and coveting. Each of these sins can cause us to alter what we do and who we are to try and measure up to others.

“if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

-Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭21‬-‭24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

God has created each of us for this very moment. Wherever God has you right now, He has seen the beginning and the ending. He knows our future. He is always with us. He makes no mistakes.

“…Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

-Esther 4:14 NKJV

I was compelled to write this blog because lately, I have found myself feeling inadequate because of what others have accomplished before me.

Then one day, I came to the realization that I had been basing my identity off of what I had or didn’t have.

This is not what God wants for any of us. He doesn’t want us to seek our identity in material things or compare ourselves to others.

He wants us to find our identity in Him. He wants us to focus on Him.

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

– Colossians 3:2 NKJV

When we remember that God has us on different paths and created us for a purpose, we remember that our focus should be on Him. He is our help in a time when we are surrounded by consumerism and the pressure to conform.

“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

– Luke 21:28 NKJV

The moment I realized I was focused on the wrong things and was finding my identity in material things, it was like God snapped me out of that feeling of inadequacy.

Praise God that He has given us our identity!

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”‬‬

– Psalms 139:41 NKJV

If you are struggling today with feeling inadequate because of what you do or don’t have, the buck stops here.

Your worth is NOT determined by these things. Your worth is found in Christ Jesus.

Don’t look to the people and things of this world to tell you that you matter. Look to Christ!

Prayer and seeking God’s Word are two main ways we can find strength, encouragement, and TRUTH!

I can tell you from experience that the more we read the Bible and pray, the more we will find peace, encouragement, and the silencing of lies.

“My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.”

– Psalms 5:3 NKJV

“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”

– Psalms 119:105 NKJV

Look up and find STRENGTH!

Look up and find HOPE!

Look up and find TRUTH!

Look up and find PEACE!