I sat with my back pinned against the back of the upright chair, legs crossed, assessing my choice of attire for the evening from the boots to the pants to the lace blouse, and finished off with the jewelry—never leave home without it.

Was my choice appropriate for the evening? It seemed to blend in sufficiently with Executive Ellen’s and Powerhouse Pam’s attire. I didn’t mean to, but I was in comparison mode. Oh how I hated that—I always ended up on the short end of the stick.

I spent the evening planning an upcoming event with other area ministry leaders, honored to be included but secretly wondering how I made the guest list.

It wasn’t so much what I wore on the outside that I was comparing with the others, if I was honest with myself. These were high-powered ministry women with years of successful ministry behind them that were more impressive than most ministry leaders I personally knew. Their impact for the kingdom was mighty. They each knew their call and they confidently lived and breathed it each day for decades.

As I sat listening to their suggestions for the event, and adding my thoughts when warranted, I fought to ignore another deafening voice. One that sought to mock me at every turn.

“Why are you even here? You don’t belong here.”
“What have you done for the Kingdom of God that even comes close to comparing to these other women?”
“Maybe God doesn’t trust you as much as He trusts these women to impact the Kingdom of Heaven.”

By the time the evening was over, I couldn’t get to my car fast enough. Thankful that dark skies fell early during these months, tears cascaded down my cheeks and no one could see them through my windows.

What had I done in my life that had any real significance for the Kingdom of Heaven? I wasn’t preaching revivals or teaching on a weekly radio or television program. I hadn’t even devoted my life to teaching children’s Sunday School (for which children should have been grateful! At least I knew where I wasn’t gifted!)

I’m not even sure how I saw through my tears to drive home that night, but by the time I arrived in my garage, I turned off the ignition, sat in the solitude of my parked car and wept.

Could it be true, Lord? That you don’t trust me to have a significant impact for the Kingdom?
Just the thought of it grieved my heart.

All I wanted was for others to see Jesus in me. To want to know Him. For me to one day hear the Father say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

The evening left me feeling useless. Minimized. De-valued. Unworthy.

A friend later asked about my evening and without going into too much detail (how could I? It was too embarrassing to admit my limited value), I shared my concerns of my seemingly limited contribution to God’s kingdom. She encouraged me to pray and ask God what He thought. Before I could stop myself, I admitted that I was afraid of His answer.

“Why?” she asked. “You know your Father adores you…”

“Because it’d break my heart to hear Him say I’ve disappointed Him or could have done more but didn’t.”

What she said next was golden, and just the reminder I needed to defeat the negativity that swirled around in my head discoloring my view not only of myself but of God: “It is not His nature or character to criticize you. He only encourages, exhorts, and builds you up.”

Still, these thoughts stemming from my comparison game plagued me for days. I cried, I prayed, I searched the Scripture. I needed resolution.

As I sought out the Lord for answers, He whispered to my heart, “The enemy likes to tell you who you aren’t, and always in the negative, but I delight in telling you who you are, and always in the positive.”

Tears flowed as I let those words seep into my heart. I had been listening to the negative lies of the enemy: You’re useless. You’re not trustworthy. God doesn’t value you as much as the others. Your purpose isn’t as important.

No wonder I felt discouraged.
Do you ever feel that way too?

I knew the only way to combat those negative lies, was with God’s truth. What does God say about me, and you?

God says:
I am His child (John 1:12).
I am His beloved daughter (Galatians 3:26).
I am deeply cherished and loved (Romans 5:8).
I am completely forgiven (1 John 1:9).
I have been made new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
I have been bought with a price and I belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
I am free from any condemning charges against me (Romans 8:1-2, 31-34).
I have been established, anointed and sealed by God (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).
I am God’s work of art, created for good works (Ephesians 2:10).
I am the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-14).
I have been chosen and appointed by God to bear fruit (John 15:16).
I am God’s coworker (2 Corinthians 6:1).

Later in the week the Lord whispered to my heart that the value of anything is determined by what anyone is willing to pay for it. God was willing to pay for me with the cost of His very own son’s life. And He didn’t pay any more for any of those other women in the room whom I deemed more valuable or more worthy or more important to Him or the kingdom than I was. He paid the same price for each of us.

No matter what I’ve done, no matter what I haven’t done, no matter how cleaned up I look on the outside or how really broken I am on the inside, God’s words to me remain the same:

I love you.
I am for you.
I believe in you.
You are my child.
I am your friend.
You are not alone.
I have a purpose and a plan for you, and it is GOOD.
We will get through this together.

He paid the same price for me as He did for you. That levels the field.

He knows the plans He has for me and they are good. Likewise, He knows the plans He has for you, and they are equally good.

Let’s stop playing the enemy’s comparison game and start living in our Christ-bought identity. There is eternal security there.

Because of Him, #HopePrevails!

(If you have a question you’d like Dr. B to answer, contact her here now. Your name and identity will be kept confidential.)

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