Wholeness For the Weary Soul

by Morgan Krueger | Jul 8, 2021 | Life Advice, Sisterhood

For the friend that feels divided in a million different ways, this post is for you. For the weary soul that feels like you’ve lost your passion for the things that once gave you life, this is for you. For those white knuckling your way through your days thinking it will just get better if you get through your to-do lists, this is for you.

Let’s talk about what it means to be whole. 

This is a topic that is so close to my heart because anything I share today is such a personal part of my story. Things God is teaching me. Things God is ironing out in my life right now. And I want to invite you today to join me in a deep hunger to live a wholehearted life for God.

I want you to close your eyes. Clear your mind. Think back to a time, maybe it was yesterday, last week, five years ago, when you were five, but think about a time you truly felt alive. A time you felt wholehearted. Don’t overcomplicate it. Think about where you were. Think about who you were with. What were you doing? What were you thinking about? What were you NOT thinking about? What were you not worried or anxious about that you might be struggling with now? How present were you?

Now open your eyes.

Friend, whatever that moment was for you, I want you to realize the holiness of that moment. I want you to see that the state you were in, that’s God heart for you. Not the anxiousness and half-heartedness you might find yourself in. It doesn’t mean all our moments will be like that one, but the beauty of a life lived with Jesus is that there is a peace that surpasses our circumstances. A wholeness of heart that can transcend our broken situations.

I think for too long we have been letting our circumstances determine the way we live wholeheartedly. This IS not God’s heart for us.

If we want to be wholehearted, we have to know and have a true understanding and love for the Father’s heart.

When we know the Father’s heart for us, everything changes.

Most of you know King David. He was the appointed King of Israel from the tribe of Judah. He was an unassuming shepherd who God chose to use in mighty ways. In humility toward God, he accomplished great things in his life, check it out:

• A humble leader – and from him we get the phrase “man looks at the outward appearance, God looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
• A fierce warrior, to the point he had songs sung about him in battle.
• He killed Goliath – enough said.
• He escaped death countless times and then extending mercy to those who tried to kill him.
• He is the writer of most of the Psalms (think NYT best-selling author and top Christian Album on Apple… no big deal.)

And don’t get me wrong, David also had a past. He was a murderer and an adulterer, but still God saw David as a “man after his own heart.” If anything, this points to the goodness of the unconditional love of a Father.

And the Lord makes a covenant with David that he IS the rightful king of Israel, and that his throne will be established forever.

David had many children but one of his children was Solomon.

And one of the greatest tasks of David’s life was to prepare for a temple to be made for the Lord’s presence. He was old in age, so God charged Solomon to build it.

David knew as a Father that he had to prepare everything for Solomon to be able to pull this thing off:

“David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore, I will make preparations for it.” So David made extensive preparations before his death.” (1 Chronicles 22:5)

He prepared every stone, gold, silver, bronze, iron, all workers, all positions, musicians, gatekeepers (security), treasurers, military, and every single other thing he would need.

Maybe you need to hear that today, that your Heavenly Father prepares for you exactly what you’ll need to accomplish what He has called you to.

David did it ALL.

And at the very end of his life, he gives a monumental speech and prayer to the people of Israel and to his son.

If you’ve ever seen someone at the end of their life, you know that they use their words wisely. We should all pay attention to this charge.

He prays this prayer for his son and God’s people:

“O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision.” 1 Chronicles 29:16-19

What a beautiful prayer. Solomon doesn’t pray that God would make his son rich, established, or “successful”, but wholly sincere and dedicated to God. That’s the good news – that we have a God that just asks us to be whole. Not perfect, but whole. See there’s a difference.

Perfection is about achievement.

Wholeness is about giving what you have.

Perfection is all about the end result.

Wholeness is about the journey.

Perfection is about pride.

Wholeness is about humility.

David didn’t need his son to be perfect, He just needed him to give all that he had knowing that God would sustain him. Knowing that the good work he had begun in him, HE would bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6).

Hopefully right about now if you appreciate a good story, you’re asking the question, well… did he? Did Solomon remain wholehearted?

Here’s the bad news…. no, he did not. He did for a while, but he didn’t stay dedicated to the one hope that God had for him. And it’s interesting because there are three main factors that drew him away from wholeheartedness that I believe God wants us to be aware of as a warning so that we might resist the schemes of the enemy.

Let me break this down.

       1. He loved the things of the world more than the things of God.

Solomon does what was commanded of him, he built the temple, he asked for wisdom, and things seemed to be going well. The people were happy. And then there’s a shift.

Because God blessed Solomon’s reign, the riches and honor came flooding in and with that, Solomon shifted from worshipping God to allowing others, and eventually himself, to become to object of his worship.

He loved that people came to him for wisdom, the wisdom given to him by God. (1 Kings 10:24)

He loved the gifts more than the Giver and kept them for himself. (1 Kings 10:25)

He loved receiving glory and status more than giving all the glory to God. (1 Kings 10:18-21)

       2. He let the wrong voices be the loudest voices.

Over time, Solomon acquired many wives of foreign women who worshipped other gods. These voices, the closest voices to him, because the loudest voices in his life. (1 Kings 11:1-4)

Before you think this isn’t relatable, don’t underestimate the power of even one relationship having a huge impact on your wholeheartedness. Some of you might not even have one wife or husband, but you follow more than 100 people on Instagram, right? Each of those voices you’re letting speak things and ideas into your life without even knowing it.

The voices we let into our life will either lead or mislead us into intimacy with our Heavenly Father.

       3. He filled the wrong temple.

Solomon thought he was wholeheartedly serving the Lord by building the temple as he asked. And he did to an extent. But why do you think that God wanted the temple in the first place? So He could be with us. So He could fill us with His love and presence.

The temple was God’s way to be with us. To dwell among us… and Solomon missed it. He was so caught up in doing, achieving, completing, that he left vacant the main thing God wanted to fill, which was himself. Friend, God wants us. Anything He asks us to do will only be a means to an end to bring us to him.

David asked Solomon to be whole – to have an “undivided” heart to build the temple. But really it was never fully about the building, God wanted to fill a different empty space.

And maybe today as you read this, there are idols, or some spaces, or some voices that need redemption today. If so, God is near, and loves doing the impossible.

So Solomons life ends with bondage to idolatry and a love for the world over God. (1 Kings 11:6)

I know this feels discouraging because we love a happy ending.

But praise be to God, there is one.

Solomon wasn’t the golden child of David, but God the Father was faithful.

So much so that when Jesus puts on flesh to enter the cosmos, he is called the “son of David” (Matthew 12:23).

See, Jesus was wholeheartedly devoted to the things of God. Jesus lived a perfect life. Even when met with temptation of worldly status, he rejected it by becoming a humble servant.

When the wrong voices tried to speak into his life, he retreated to let God be the loudest voice.

When everyone around him was trying to earn salvation by works, he purchased that salvation through pouring out his blood for us.

In Solomon we see failure, in Jesus we see fulfillment. Through Jesus, now we are the temple that God wants to fill. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

This IS the Father’s love on display.

SO HOW DO WE LIVE A WHOLEHEARTED LIFE?

You see, the first thing said about Solomon was that he was loved from the start. (2 Samuel 12:24)

So today, know that you’re loved. Know that God wants to be the ultimate Provider for you. If He sent us Jesus, won’t he give us everything little thing that we’ll need? Just like Solomon, won’t God our Father provide? (Matthew 6:27-31)

Through Jesus, God has made a way for us to be a recipient of wholehearted love.

What a kind, loving Father we have.

If you want this today, or if you want to go deeper into a life of wholeheartedness, I would encourage you to repent, which means “to turn” away from the things leaving you less than whole.

The good news is that it’s through the Father’s kindness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4).

It’s his kindness, it’s his LOVE that gives us a whole heart. What a whole hope we have today through the loving Father and the perfect son.

Morgan Krueger is part of Team LO and loves any opportunity to hear someones heart. In her free time she loves drinking coffee with friends, watching British baking shows, and leading their local church’s young adult ministry in West Monroe, LA with her husband, Ryan.

Your Time Is Now: GO

by Jonathan Evans | Jul 7, 2021 | Life Advice, Sisterhood

When God calls you, expect the unexpected. Know there will be unknowns. God’s calling is never to settle you. Rather, it is often to rip you from your comfort zone so you no longer depend on yourself, your skills, and your own understanding. God told Abraham, in short: Leave your country. Leave your relatives. Leave your father’s house. Leave what you know. Leave the comfort. Leave the couch. Go.

God doesn’t mind waiting to deliver your promise until you prove yourself trustworthy in following Him during these times of testing. He wants to make sure you are ready for the promise when you reach it. He wants to make sure you are mature enough to handle it when it’s your time to have it. He wants to make sure you are positioned to retain it and manage it well, and that you won’t blow it.

I remember when I played in the NFL under Coach Bill Parcells. One of the first things he did when we came to training camp was adjust our stance. The stance for a football player is the starting point. It’s how you get ready before you go. But Coach wanted to fiddle with it. He wanted to address it, even though my stance was a position I had gone to for more than eight years by then. He didn’t care. He didn’t want us to rely on what had gotten us to that point. Because what had gotten us to that point may have worked in college and in high school, but this new level wasn’t either of those. The plays were different in the NFL. The players were different too. This was a whole other level and our stance needed to reflect that.

For some of us in our Christian walk, we need to change our stance. We need to change how we roll. We need to address how we make our decisions, talk to our spouse, or relate to our friends and family. We need to change our stance on how we serve in the church. We need to change our stance on how we deal with our money. We need to change our stance on how we spend time with God, in His Word, or aligning our thoughts under His. We need to change our stance in all of these areas because this is our shot in a whole new league—it’s called the Kingdom of God.

The spiritual warfare is different than the physical troubles we have known for so long. The warriors we battle are different. The weapons are different. The approach is different. In order to make it in this spiritual league, you’ve got to be willing to let go and leave all that you know if it is preventing you from experiencing the journey of greatness God has called you to live out. You may need to:

• Leave your thoughts behind.
• Leave your will at the door.
• Leave your history.
• Leave your hopes.
• Leave your perspective and your patterns.

Adjust your stance. Sometimes you have to leave the things you think you need in order to get the greatness you know you want. If it goes against what God says, leave it. Drop it. Walk away. Just put it down. Because anything that disagrees with biblical truth needs to go in order for you to get up, go and get what God has given you.

When you feel the Spirit prodding you to do something different, to be different, to go to a different place—and you’re uncomfortable with it— that’s a sign that you need to pack your bags and go. If you start to feel comfortable in a shackled situation, that’s a dangerous place to be. You’ll never get all that God has for you if you stay stuck to what you know.

Too many of us want assurance from God that the grass on the other side of the fence is as green as that which we are standing on right now, or greener. But the truth is that you must go before God will show. Yes, it’s an uncomfortable feeling. Yes, it’s a stretching experience. No, there are no guarantees. But isn’t that what faith is all about? Faith is being sure of what you can’t see, not what you can. There are not those kinds of guarantees in faith, or it wouldn’t be faith.

What’s the Secret? 

Ask yourself what thing or place or direction is your go? What have you been fighting, resisting, and maneuvering your way out of for years? Remember: When you go, God will show. He will pull your unique promise out of His pocket. And the moment He does you will realize that being with the Father is more valuable than anything else you were chasing or trying to hold on to.

Hot tip: God unleashes greatness on those who live by faith.

God is calling each of us to greatness in His kingdom. But we only get to experience it when we are willing to trust our very lives to the hands of our Father. We demonstrate this trust through actions of faith. We arrive at our promises by actions based on faith. Sure, we are saved for free, but spiritual maturity takes work. Salvation is a gift, but growth is a grind. You have to work at it. You have to obey what God tells you to do.

God has called you for greatness. He has a plan to unleash His greatness both in and through you. It’s bigger than you because it’s not just for you.  That’s important to realize. Because when I look at this culture today, it’s one of the most narcissistic cultures ever. It’s all about me. Every show, every podcast, every post is all about glorifying self. We chase greatness in this country for three people: Me, myself, and I. But until you realize it’s not all about you, God will allow you to stay settled in the sameness. He won’t unleash you to go pursue all that is yours to have.

You need to understand that greatness doesn’t mean storing up blessings for yourself. Greatness is all about increasing your influence and strength in such a way that you can become a greater blessing to others. God told Abraham He would make him a great nation first, then He said He’d make his name great. It wasn’t the other way around. It was about the nation.  It was about others. Abraham’s name would become legendary, yes. But not until God’s purpose of using him to bring blessing to others was carried out first.

But in our culture today, we’ve got it backwards. We want our name in lights first, before we’ll agree to be the light of Christ to those who need it. We want our back scratched first, before we’ll even scratch the surface in telling others what Jesus has come to do for them. We want our notoriety and crown on first, before we’ll pay homage to the King who rules overall. But His kingdom doesn’t work that way. That’s the wrong direction. In fact, that sounds an awful lot like the direction of this world.

I know you’re probably chasing some stuff right now. I know you’re pursuing your dreams. I know you have desires, ambitions, hopes, and goals for your life. And there’s nothing wrong with that, unless it keeps you from allowing yourself to be unsettled when God calls your name. Unless it prevents you from letting God pull you, push you, and direct you to where you need to go. Only when you are willing to stop pushing back on God and truly allow faith to start pushing on you will you get the greatness He has in store for you. Only then will you see Him reach into His divine pocket and pull out the divine promise He’s been wanting you to experience all along.  Now . . . GO.

Excerpted with permission from Your Time is Now by Jonathan Evans. Copyright 2021, Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Jonathan Evans is a pastor, speaker, mentor, and author who speaks passionately and powerfully about his relationship with God and has a burning desire to share his faith with others. He serves on the pastoral staff at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, a nondenominational church in Dallas, Texas, with his pastor, friend, and father, Dr. Tony Evans. Jonathan has roles in both the local church and in the national ministry, The Urban Alternative.

Jonathan has a goal of building a legacy that leaves an impact. A dynamic speaker, he has shared at men’s conferences, youth events, churches, and other venues throughout the United States. Jonathan has also written several books, including Different, Get in the Game: A Spiritual Workout for Athletes (with Dr. Tony Evans), and Kingdom Family Devotional (with Dr. Tony Evans). Jonathan has also created powerful video and audio presentations to accompany his teaching, including spoken word videos that showcase his ability to deliver his messages with energy, creativity, and relevance.

Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jonathanblakeevans

WTG with Candace Cameron Bure

by Sadie Robertson Huff | Jul 1, 2021 | Life Advice, Sisterhood

It’s been so cool watching people step in and guest host the WHOA That’s Good podcast while I’ve been out with Honey! And I’ve got to say, one of my favorites has been a recent episode with Candace Cameron Bure. (Listen here!) Candace is one of the main reasons I ended up going on Dancing with the Stars and she’s made such a huge impact in my life. So, it was only fitting to have her on the podcast! And how cool is it that my mom got to step in and guest host this one for me?! Let’s dive in!

My mom and Candace have been friends for a while. They first met when I got asked to do Dancing with the Stars and I had just turned 17. Candace and I happened to have the same dance partner, and mom was eager to know more about who she’d be letting me spend my next few months with. So, she called Candace! Candace was super positive and excited about the whole situation and mom was relieved. And heyo, I began my journey on the show!

Of course, mom had to ask Candace the biggest question of the podcast which is for the guest to share the best piece of advice they’d been given. Candace said her best piece of advice came from her mom and she said it all the time. “Honey, would you feel comfortable if Jesus was standing right in front of you?” WHOA that’s good! Jesus IS with us everywhere we go and this is a great question to ask ourselves before we speak or act.

Mom then went in to asking Candace how she manages to live out loud with her faith and how tough it must be doing so while in the spotlight in the midst of Hollywood. I love Candace’s initial response! “I love Jesus!” It’s not just a part of her she can put aside for her work or friends. He truly is the most important person in her life and her faith exudes from her. Of course, she uses discernment in times of when to share her faith or when to talk more or less about Jesus. She opened up about how it can be tricky in the entertainment industry because as a person who wants to live her faith out loud, she must understand that not everyone shares that faith. She believes there is a way to share Jesus that isn’t offensive or pushy toward people, and that’s exactly what she strives for! You know how people feel when they buy a new house or get a new car and something in them just wants to share the news with others? That’s just how Candace feels about Jesus.

I love what Candace then had to say. “The more you talk about Jesus and the blessings He’s given you, the more confident you will become in Him.”

Then the conversation shifted more toward the business side of things in Candace’s life. Mom asked her to share about her clothing line and how she determines what to say yes and no to in her busy career. Candace then went on to mention her journal she’s been writing in for years. It’s filled with prayers, dreams and goals she’s sought out over the years. And she keeps praying about them. She admits that her accomplishments didn’t just happen haphazardly. She’s been working toward and praying about her goals for 15 years now. So many people could look at Candace on Instagram and think huge success happened overnight for her. But it’s encouraging to know she was fervent in prayer and God blessed her for that!

As most of you probably know, Candace has kids of her own and my mom asked her to speak to her decision to take time off work for her kids and how it has affected her life. Candace spoke to the quote my mom shared, “You can do everything you want in life, just not all at once.” by reminding us that God gives us seasons in life for a reason. When Candace began having kids 2 years after she and her husband, Val, married, she knew she had to be home to raise them. Though it wasn’t necessarily easy for her, God grew her so much in those ten years of her life. She gave the decision to God of whether or not she’d go back into the entertainment industry and trusted He knew best either way He’d guide her. As Val and Candace began to pray about whether or not Candace should return to work, God flung the doors wide open for her. She went back in full force and saw the workforce as a mission field. Since then she’s been in over 30 movies and written children’s books all while giving the glory to God!

As I’m home with Honey right now and mom got to share some of her experiences with her own kids, it was only fitting to ask Candace for her best mom advice. And she was so sweet in encouraging me with such wisdom. She reminded me how important it is to soak in the little moments with Honey. Because one day I’ll blink and I know she’ll be grown.

Candace then talked about how much she enjoyed the teenage years with her kids and the conversations during those years and up until now. Mom chimed in and said there are always opportunities to learn from your kids, but as they become adults you truly learn so much from them. Then Candace agreed by telling a personal story about her son. During the pandemic, he preached a whole sermon to Candace and Val, and it was such a gift to both of them.

To close out the episode, mom asked Candace to share about her fitness journey and offer some tips. Candace replied with the truth of how it’s always been a bit of a challenge for her until she found certain things in fitness that she really loved, such as specific workout programs. As a woman who formerly struggled with an eating disorder, she became more motivated to continue her fitness journey. And the rewards don’t only come physically, but mentally as well. The better she physically feels from a workout, the better she mentally feels.

Candace is clearly full of life and wisdom and it was such an honor to have her share some of that with us! For the full version, listen here!

We would LOVE to hear how this blog post landed on you! Share in the comments below or message us on Instagram!

Want more encouragement from Live Original? Follow us on Instagram @legitsadierob and @liveoriginal.

Below the Surface

by Jill Dasher | Jun 29, 2021 | Life Advice, Sisterhood

“I assumed that if the surface looked good, then it must be good. But an outside-in perspective is rarely as accurate as a view from the inside-out.”

Imagine for a moment that you are sitting on the shoreline of the most magnificent beach; the sand is white and brilliant, and the waters are as clear blue as the sky. Now imagine if you never were allowed even to place your foot into the water. Imagine that all we ever could do was look upon these intriguing waters, but we never were able to know what lies beneath. What if the ocean were merely a mystery—; a vast ocean of secrecy that you were never able to discover? Everything that lies below the surface was off limits to you—; no seashells, no blow-fish, clams, starfish, or sunken ships with treasure—, none of it. You were completely cut off from the deep.

Now do me a favor, if you will, and imagine that the shoreline represents everything about you visible to the outside world, and the ocean represents the core of who you are—, the very depth of your soul. What if the only thing that ever could be known about you by yourself and others was merely the physical, the obvious, and the part of you that you make known to the world around you? Suppose the very core of who you are was kept hidden, not only from others, but also from yourself.? Why? All because you were afraid of what might happen if you really looked below the surface, afraid of what others might think of you and what you might think of yourself.

I wrote a book called SHALLOW because as sad as it is to admit I have lived the majority of my life on the surface. I’ve lived in shallow places, content to deal with only surface-level issues in my friendships, body, faith, and marriage—all of which I individually discuss throughout the book. When you spend your focus and energy polishing the surface of your life, you may find it easy to convince yourself that all is well. I assumed that if the surface looked good, then it must be good. But an outside-in perspective is rarely as accurate as a view from the inside-out. This is a view that, all too often, is left unseen because we don’t think it matters all that much.

What mattered to me were the things that could be seen, perceived, and assumed based on the shallow shoreline of my life. Perception became my reality. It was the idol that ultimately led to imprisonment of my soul. The way I perceived myself, along with my perception of how others viewed me, became my measuring stick for success: If you think I am kind, then I must be kind. If you think I am pretty, then I must be pretty. If you believe my life looks like the picture-perfect all-American family, then that is what we must be. But one of the dangers of that path rests in what happens when others don’t think those things of me: What if, through your senses, you perceive something very different about me? What if you believe me to be selfish and self-seeking? What if you think I am fake? What if you believe me to be shallow?

I gave the world complete access to define who I was. When their definition did not match up with the person I was portraying myself to be, all my efforts were thrust into changing that one thing, whatever it was at the time: “Just be more spiritual, funnier, the life of the party, meek, more stylish”—you get the idea. I believed the lie, “Be who they want you to be.”

Mark Sayers nails this idea perfectly in his book The Vertical Self:

Welcome to the twenty-first century, where we

can now purchase and change personalities

the way we can clothes, depending on mood

or circumstance. Welcome to the world in which

we are told we can be anyone we want to be,

where identity is no longer based in a sense

of self but rather in the imagery we choose at any particular moment.

My circumstance (aka, how the community around me perceived me) is what dictated the person I ascribed to be at that moment.

Does this sound familiar to anyone else? Or maybe, as you read, you are thinking, I am well aware of what this looks like because this is my life. I am tossed continuously to and fro, bending and shaping who I believe I should be based upon the opinions of others. And not only their opinions of me, but my perception of their lives from the outside looking in. Contemplate this question: What is the driving force behind the majority of your decisions? Are you shape-shifting your way through life to impress people? Do you constantly redefine yourself in an attempt to be accepted or relevant in today’s ever-changing culture?

When I so desperately sought the approval of other people, it led me to live a life of chaos. I was literally like an infant being tossed around in a violent thunderstorm—or probably more like a hurricane. This way of living sent me down a path of destruction, thrown every which way in an attempt to “arrive” at Destination: “They Love Me” and trying to “be” whatever was required at that moment to be accepted. But God is graciously and patiently beginning to teach me that you can “be” a lot of things and never “become” anyone. He is teaching me that you can “be” a friend and never taste what is meant by friendship. You can “be” loving and yet never truly experience the intimacy of love. Giving the world an à la carte version of yourself will not lead to life. Instead, it will leave you with an unquenchable thirst for more, with your head on a perpetual swivel. In other words, perception is not necessarily reality.

Leaving the shallow end is always a little uncomfortable. As our toes stretch to no longer feel the ground beneath us, we’ll have to fight the urge to turn back. If you choose to read my book, it may get tough. You will likely discover wounds buried deep within you, and maybe you’re not quite ready to expose them. If that’s true, it’s okay, because God’s timing will always prevail. He will lead you back to those challenging places when you’re ready.

Allowing God into the deepest hidden parts of you does not mean that you have to let the world in as well. That part will come later. And when it happens, you’ll be astonished at the workings of the Lord because you will find yourself opening up to people about situations in your life that today, in this very moment, you could never imagine sharing with another soul.

WARNING: THIS BOOK IS RAW. It was not comfortable to write and was not easy for me to share my flaws. And trust me when I express that it doesn’t feel good to share my raw, vulnerable, jealous, vain, shallow heart. We so often correlate “easy” with “right.” In other words, if something feels good, then it must be good, and if something doesn’t feel right, then it must be bad. This is a flawed way of thinking and, quite frankly, a tactic that Satan deploys to keep us in a state of merely existing—a life that moves at a consistent pace, following the rules of society, with no challenge to the soul or desire for growth. And that, my friends, should be the thing we fear – a life lived in the shallow end. A life that simply goes through the motions because we are afraid to leave the safety of the seashore.

Do you want to keep living this way? Do you want to remain above ground, devoting all your days to merely polishing the surface of your life? Will you pause to consider the mysteries of what life could look like if you allow God into all of the invisible places?

How you perceive yourself and how others perceive you is of little importance to reality. Perception is not reality. Reality is not what you decide or feel it to be. Reality is not the life you create while running from your past, and it will never be found in a three-step formula. Reality is reality, and the only way to experience it fully is to seek refuge in the only One who can fully see us. He sees us from the inside out, from beginning to end, our yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows.

Choose to live in reality with me as I unveil patterns and fears that were displayed in my own life. Time and time again, I came broken before a Father who really knows me, and time and time again, He wholeheartedly loved me. Although this book is about my journey out of the shallow places, I would love to simultaneously be a part of God doing a work in you. Let’s grow and change together. Now, take off your floaties, get over your fear of being in a swimsuit (that is so shallow), and dive in deep.

Jill Dasher is a blogger and speaker who is passionate about sharing the message of being known through authentic community with God and each other. She resides in Asheville, NC with her husband Zach and four children. In between sunset hikes and camping weekends she works alongside her husband running a media company. Follow Jill on Instagram @jilldasher

Comparison Doesn’t Comfort

by Grace Valentine | Jun 17, 2021 | Life Advice, Sisterhood | 4 comments

If you’re anything like me then you’ve struggled with comparison. I love that the word of the month for Live Original is sisterhood because so often I treat other daughters of Christ as opponents instead of sisters. 

Throwback to high school for instance…


One time my friend’s ex dated someone new. We did what many girls do. We stalked the new girl and compared her to my friend…

“YOU’RE PRETTIER THAN HER.”
 

“OH HE TOTALLY DOWNGRADED.”


Downgraded according to Urban Dictionary means:


“When someone goes from having something relatively good to something that is worse than the original. Often used with boyfriend/girlfriends.”


So basically I called some random girl who probably is a sweet girl with dreams, a family, shares the same Creator as me, and has insecurities like me….uglier than my friend. I compared my friend to a girl she didn’t know. I created tension between two girls who did not even know each other.
 Two girls who are actually sisters in Christ. I thought comforting words were: “you’re prettier than her.”

The truth is this conversation may make someone feel pretty for a second… it may make someone feel “better” for a minute… but comparison can’t ever comfort someone. Only our Savior can comfort.

I look back on that night and I get so convicted by my sin. But the truth is I’ve noticed this same conversation happen with girls of all ages, including moms. We compare each other instead of love each other. We compare ourselves and find ourselves more insecure than before.

I don’t care if it’s the new girl your ex is dating or the bully at your school. I don’t care if it’s the girl in the “rival” sorority who just doesn’t seem to like you… or if it’s the prom queen. We as women need to start walking in our true purpose. And that’s to be sisters and teammates, not opponents.

The truth is comparison isn’t comforting. Comparison may make you feel good for an hour while crying that your ex moved on, and having a friend chime in saying “she isn’t as pretty as you,” but the next day you’ll wake up and look in the mirror and doubt your friend’s words. You’ll notice your waistline increasing and freak because Sally Jane, who is now dating your ex, has a smaller waistline. You’ll realize you aren’t the prettiest princess, and yes, maybe the girl next to you does have better legs than you. Her chest is bigger and the girl your boyfriend cheated on you with does get more guys than you. 
Comparison highlights someone’s best and worst qualities while allowing you to only highlight your worst. It may make you feel good for a second, but comparison doesn’t comfort. Comparison doesn’t bring you peace. Jesus does. His grace completes you.
When you compare others to each other, you begin to see the worst in your self. If you speak destruction in others’ lives, you continually destruct your own. 
Comparison only highlights insecurities more. 
Because, truth be told, if I compared my looks to the fashion blogger on Instagram – she would probably win. 
I can’t compete with her, because I was never meant to be her.

Our society already puts so much pressure on women to look a certain way and to act a certain way. Why do we as women, who firsthand know how hard it is to be a girl… still decide to put down other girls? 
And the thing is, this kind of stuff doesn’t only happen in high school. We like to believe it only happens in high school… childish stalking, judging a girl by her social media, and comparing her to your best friend… but I’ve met plenty of 20-somethings, 30-somethings, and soccer moms who like to make life a competition.


Why are we women so darn competitive?


LIKE WHY DO I HAVE TO ALWAYS BE FASTER THAN THE 40 YEAR-OLD NEXT TO ME IN THE GYM.


There’s no way my quads will ever be as good as hers. Nothing wrong with that. But why do I care? Why don’t I focus on myself, instead of wasting energy trying to be someone I’m not? Why don’t I cheer her on? I should spend more time being her sister and stop trying to be her competition.


Maybe you sometimes feel the urge to compete with your ex’s new girlfriend or the girl who is dating the great guy. Or maybe you feel like your friend gets all the boys and since you don’t, she’s winning and she is prettier. 
It sounds dumb, because it is dumb. But let me be clear – just because one girl is beautiful and talented does not mean you are not. Just because someone is scoring touchdowns does not mean you have to sit on the sidelines. Just because someone is happy, does not mean you are supposed to be sad. 
Life was never meant to be a contest. Community is about connecting, not comparison. 
Our one goal should be Christ. We should be pushed to know Him and not be pushed to be the prettiest girl in our group, to be more popular than his ex, or to be more successful than our “friend.” Our one goal should always be to know Christ and make Him known. When you know Christ, you pray for those around you to walk in their blessings and in His name.

In Acts 9 there’s a woman named Tabitha who Peter comes across while telling others that Jesus had risen from the dead. We don’t know much about Tabitha and maybe that’s why I admire her so much. We don’t know if she was the prettiest girl in the town, or if she had a successful business. We don’t know if she made the best breakfast or if she was popular. What we know is that she loved the overlooked. She made clothes for the widows and the poor. Tabitha loved others well. She was constantly looking for those others had forgotten and helping them. When she died, everyone was upset wearing the clothes she had made them. Peter rose her from the dead through Jesus’s name.

In a society that tells us we should strive to be the “main character”, I hope we can strive to be like Tabitha. She loved big, didn’t try to make her name big. She served others, not her own name. She wasn’t worried about being “prettier”, “better”, or “proving herself”… she was busy being a good sister to everyone. And when others thought she was dead, they remembered her for her love. Her love was what made her different. She loved her sisters well and her community was better for it. 

We have enough women who focus on changing their relationship status and changing who they are to please society. We need more women willing to change the world. 
Always remember ladies – just because another girl is beautiful does not mean you are not. She’s your sister, not your competition. Life and community was meant to be a celebration, not a competition. Run the race God called you to run, the One that leads to Heaven. AND STOP trying to compete with people who are supposed to be your teammates.


Grace is a 24 year old author of two books who also writes timely encouragement on Instagram. She lives in Orlando, FL, and her favorite food is sushi! 

Follow Grace on Instagram @thegracevalentine to find out more info on her books!