Confession: Some days, it pains me to look at other blogs.
All of my insecurities rise to the top. And I see my lack in so many areas.
Exactly how does she have 700+ readers? And that picture! She must have a nice camera. And creativity! Wow. My mind doesn’t think poetically. And that template. Beautiful. And she sews?! And cooks!? She’s so organized. And athletic. And pretty. She has an Etsy site, too?!
Sometimes I think, You know, I’m just an average girl, with an average blog, writing about my average life. Maybe I should just hang it up.
Confession: Some days, it pains me to look at others. Period.
You shall be careful therefore to do as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that all may go well with you. Deuteronomy 5:32,33
Even God’s chosen people had to be warned: Stay Focused. Do not look to the right or to the left. Do as the Lord commanded YOU.
Each of us has a divine and different calling. On our life. On our home. And even our blog.
We are far beyond average in the sight of God.
Beloved, do not look to the right or to the left. Keep your eyes on Christ … and His calling on YOU.
Remember what happened to Peter?
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and started to sink. “Lord save me!”
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” – Matthew 14:28-31
I can relate.
Peter starts to doubt because he turns his head. He recognizes his lack.
He realizes that he is an average guy being called to an extraordinary thing.
And he begins to sink.
It is as if Jesus is saying, “Peter! Focus. Be confident. Do not turn to the right or to the left. Walk in the way that the LORD your God has commanded you. Keep your eyes on Me”.
When keeping my eyes on Christ and His calling on me, I find my confidence.
It is then that I can rest and enjoy the gifts I see in other people. And on other blogs.
Let us have faith that, in Christ, we are far beyond average.
Go on. Step out of the boat!
With your eyes on Jesus…you are extraordinary.
Becky Crenshaw, The Word of God and a Cup of Joe
ABOUT BECKY.CRENSHAW
My husband and I live in Knoxville, Tennessee with our three amazing, football lovin' boys and serve on staff with Campus Crusade. We also care for my 90-year-old grandmother, Ethel. Through writing...
{ 44 comments… read them below or add one }
I loved reading this! I finally took my follower numbers off. :) I find it so amazing when people think I am interesting or talented. I find myself to be so boring and average. It’s nice to know that God thinks we are truly amazing and if we follow…and listen to Him he will lead us to do extraordinary things in His name. :)
-Kim
Kim! God is so good! He most definately doesn’t see you as boring or average :) You are the apple of His eye ;) Thank you for your comment.
Oh how I needed to hear this, this morning. I feel exacty the same way. I struggle deeply with feeling like I’m not enough. Seeing other blogs can be discouraging, when it should be encouraging. I have to constantly seek Christ and his truth about who I am. I have a blog post going up on Wednesday about this very issue. Thank you for writing this, it spoke to my heart this morning and reminded me of HIS truth. Bless you! You are a gift to the kingdom!
Beautiful. Thank you!
Becky, thank you. I was just asking Chris last night if I should continue blogging. He encouraged me and so did you this morning.
Becky, I cannot tell you how this ministered to me today. It was exactly what God KNEW I needed. How does He do that? Oh yeah, he is GOD! Thanks SO much a million times for changing my whole day.
Thank you for sharing this! My blog has grown but I still feel insecure a lot. I still hyperventilate at blog conferences. I still compare and wish sometimes I were more like her, more like you. Numbers, even big ones, don’t make that go away. You’re so right–only keeping our eyes on Jesus makes the difference.
Thank you for your words of encouragement, Becky. God has gifted you with His wisdom and is using you as His vessel to minister. Thank you for being so vunerable with your heart – we all struggle with these same issues and when it is exposed to the light – healing can occur!
I Love you sister!
Thank you so much for this. I have struggled with this more lately than before, and it is true! Each of us is unique, special, and extradordinary!
lol and extraORDINARY :-)
Thanks for this! I struggle with comparing myself to others a lot, and I really needed to remember this today!
Becky, this was so encouraging! Your heart is beautiful!!! Praying that I can find my identity ONLY in Christ!!
Thank you thank you thank you!!! Just what I needed to hear today! I tend to compare myself to others, even my husband. To me everything is a competition & I must win.
If I stumble I can hear the devil saying “You’re not good enough, smart enough, etc.” why even try.
The Lord must have put this here for me and many other women to read & understand He truly loves us beyond what we can imagine!
Thank you so much for this post…right on the money…smack dab on top of it…
I love this! We are all Imperfect People loved by a Perfect God! No need to compare ourselves! Everyone feels this way, I love it when people write about it!
What a wonderful, peace-inspiring reminder. I am convicted to confidently “keep looking up!” Love this.
There are no words except that I love you. You are so right. Eyes on Christ because HE knows you, your worth, your potential, and your beauty.
So very good! I need the constant reminder to quit the comparisons. I don’t even realize it half the time, but they are happening in my head far too frequently. Thank you for this great post!
Funny, this reminds me of how often I’m reminding my children to mind their OWN concerns and not worry about what so-and-so got on their math test or what so-and-so is wearing…and then I find myself doing the same darn thing! :)
Oh, Becky…have I ever lived this post. Why do we compare ourselves to others? We can’t do everything at once. And some things we are never called to do. I’ve spent over 40 years on this earth and still fall victim to comparing way too often. When I read the poetry of some or view the beautiful photographs of others or (fill in the blank), I have to remind myself that I began blogging as a journal of our family’s coming and goings to keep my extended family and distant friends updated and involved. That is my purpose…and it is not any less important than someone with 700 followers, It is just different. Thanks for the reminder today!
Preach it sister!
How’d you know?
Lately I’ve wondered if I should hang it up. If I really make a difference. With all the amazing bloggers out there–just the ones I’ve met here at InCourage!–what good is mine?
But I’m trying to stay focused. Even with feet soaked clean through, I will do my best to keep walking toward Him.
Did you get in my brain the other day?
This is beautiful and something that I too struggle with. Thank you for this encouragement!
Thanks for this message, Becky. As so many sisters have said, I could have written your confession. Comparing ourselves to others show that we are definitely looking to the wrong standard. I have to constantly tell myself that I am successful when I blog the three times a week and on the subject matters I believe God has directed me to. I also frequently pray Ann Voskamp’s Blogger’s Prayer. Yes, we must keep our eyes on Jesus.
So true! I have had to “take a time out” when looking at others’ blogs because I do so see my lack. I’m so doggone competitive and I want to be the Father’s favorite or special someone. I’ve always been so works-oriented and have struggled with the reality that He loves me whether I do anything. Thank you for the reminder that I’m not asked to do more than what He wants me to do.
I too have the “comparison syndrome”. I often over analyze my blog because it gets discouraging when you don’t have any comments on a post. You start thinking, “Oh no, did I do something wrong? Maybe I should have worded that differently. Was I THAT boring?” and on and on and on.
Your post was refreshing. I am going to print it out and keep it handy whenever I start worrying about my blog!
You wrote this for me, I just know it! Thank you!
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! What a wonderful post. You brought tears to my eyes echoing all the doubts I have been feeling lately. Thank yo for the reminder of WHO is important. God Bless…
Thanks for the reminder, Becky!
Good words, Becky! & I’m so happy to see you over here at (in)courage!! :)
Thank you for this! I feel like this so often. Bless you!
I was considering being obedient to the call of God on my life to write, to blog. As I just began today to research the possibilities and various bloggers affiliated with (in)courage.me, I too began to question whether this assignment was too much for me. Lil ole, hood me – uneducated, unemployed but given a gift to write. I read and read, researched, jotted, and as the “About (in)courage.me” page on this site says, “Dayspring found me”, it did the thang with me too and then I found you with words from the throne room of God for lil ole, hood me – unemployed and uneducated but grateful to see that someone as experienced as you understands me too and now I have chosen to pursue, what He has created me to. Koudos to you Ms. Joyful Java. From my hood to yours, may your readers increase and your anointing to inspire through Him.
I love the extraordinary quality God brings to my ordinary life! And I love that He allows us to be the unique person He made each of us to be, we don’t have to do things just like everyone else, and a blog is one of those places that can reflect our individuality, and the uniqueness He put in us when He created us.
When I started blogging, I started out doing it like most blogs I saw, until I realized, that was not me, so I do mine different, so I changed my format and it fits me so much better now. More importantly, I hope it blesses those who stop by,
Thanks for blessing us with your words today!
Seems like I am not alone in getting off focus. I am constantly having to remind myself why I blog and that my identity is in Christ and not how many follower or lack of followers I have. I love to write, I love to share what Christ is teaching me on this journey through life and hopefully God can use it to bring glory to Him.
Thank you for the post, I have felt the same way many times.
I needed this today. Thank you!
Sweet blog baby.
I want to scream “that’s my kid you all”
As an issue for women, you hit the nail on the head. I think this is something all of us struggle with, I know I do. Thanks for this beautiful encouragement! Oh, and your dad’s comment above is very sweet! He has plenty of reason to be proud!
Thank you all so much for your comments and encouragement! I tried to reply to all of you, but if for some reason I couldn’t (which is true for some…computer quirks) THANK YOU for your honesty and openness. God has a specific way He wants to touch the world and your sphere of influence. Thank you all for being available to HIM and hearkening to His call on your life, family, job, etc. Especially the call He has on your blog. HUGE ministry opportunity everytime you hit “Publish”. That takes so much faith in HIM. Thank you sweet sisters in Christ. And Dad :-)
Tremendous post! I heard once that the main danger of comparison is that you are comparing your insides to someone else’s outsides. Another way I think of it is that you are comparing yourself to your perception of someone else. Women just “go there” way too often. He called you to be YOU and noone else, Amen! Gonna go check out your blog now. Thanks for a great reminder :) Lisa
First – I have to say there is nothing AVERAGE about your blog. The name alone inspires me because I understand that the only way to get through any day is IN COURAGE :D
Second – I loved this post because it was one more re-enforcement (on a day filled with them) about how I need to keep my eye on what God has told me to do and not be swayed by all the stuff around me.
And last, but not least – I think your website is beautiful – peaceful and fun, what a great combination.
I BAWLED as I read this… BAWLED! It was as if you were SHOUTING right at my soul! I never ever EVER feel I am enough… but I too find my worth, my strength when I focus on Him and realize I am JUST what He wants. Thank you! THANK you! THANK YOU! for ministering to my heart this morning.
Thank you for this reminder! I needed to remember this!