Imagine yourself standing in a hallway, giddy with hope as the team results are posted. The white 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper hangs neatly on the painted concrete block wall, double-sided tape securing it well. Your finger runs down the list of names. Your heart thumps wildly as you scan the list.
Surely, I’m on here.
Your finger finds its way to the bottom of the list.
Your smile fades.
Your name is missing…
You’ve not been chosen. Your heart sinks as rejection soars. Then, you begin to resent those names well on their way to making team history.
Envy makes its entrance.
Do you battle envy? It’s an ugly thing, something we’ve likely all wrestled with at one time or another. Envy and I wrestled years ago concerning an award. I “just knew” my project had sealed the deal as I walked into the banquet with a proud excitement, but another name was called. Tension filtered through the air.
Petty, really. So. Not. God.
Other situations shook me as well, and they certainly didn’t “feel” petty. Maybe your situations don’t either? I look back now and think why? The “winners” weren’t the enemy. Their success wasn’t either. The devil was (and is). I wasn’t wrestling with “them,” I was wrestling with the sin that wars within.
Four ways to combat envy are:
1. Compare ourselves only to the plans of One. God has plans. Why not look to those and trust Him? After all, the nose and the finger are both important but have vastly different roles. Could you imagine a nose pecking away on the keyboard? Ummm…yeah, err, no. Don’t be a nose trying to peck on a keyboard, okay?
2. When jealousy rolls, sweep it away with “But God says…” Use the Word to combat wayward feelings. Because feelings? They’re often written with the pen of fiction. Keep ’em in check with a stroke of truth via Jesus.
3. Pray. Pray for “them”, the situation, and ourselves. Then find thanks.
4. Cheer others on! Cheer for those who “made the team.” Offer congratulations or a word of thanks to the Lord. It’s all good.
Be encouraged. Envy has nothing on God. As I tell my kids, “Be the best you God has made. No one else can do it.” So whether we make the team or not, whether we’re “A” listers or “B”, let’s cheer others on in the name of Christ.
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I am a writer and speaker who is passionate about seeing women walk deeper with God. I have been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Dreams and Premonitions. My retired-from-the-military husband and I live with our three children in Oklahoma. Visit my website or follow my social media!
Thanks for these practical tips. Envy is never pretty, yet most of us experience it, don’t we? Cheering others on always helps me too..
It is common, Betsy. Thank goodness Jesus is more powerful.
Ooh, we’ve all been there. Four great points; resting in God’s plan and not ours is huge.
Yes to God’s plan, Lisa. Am right there with you, sister!
Love this encouragement to keep our eyes fixed on God, rather than on everyone else.
Yes, indeed. Fixin’ our eyes, friend. 😉
Great tips. It is super hard to not let envy creep in, especially with social media prevalent is our society. I know it has been a particularly tough topic for me because my husband and I battling infertility and seeing pictures of kids all over social media makes envy want to creep in.
Envy is subtle, isn’t it, Carrie? I’m sorry you’re facing infertility. That’s a hard one. I’m praying for you as you press in to His strength to battle the enemy called envy.
#3 for sure. Years ago when I started my first job I was envious of a new girl that started because she was so pretty. And then I realized how terrible that was. Right there I confessed it to God and sought out her friendship from then on. We are now great friends!
Glad to hear sin didn’t get the best of the situation!