Social media has a way of portraying whatever story it wants to tell. Anywhere from truth, to half-truths to flat out lies. Often when we look at celebrities, influencers, bloggers, maybe your neighbor, whoever it may be; we so quickly compare ourselves to what we see as good. The perfect life, the perfect body, perfect face. Whatever it may be. We have a tendency to short change ourselves, in comparing ourselves with someone else. Most famous or known people are putting on an act for entertainment or fame. Some that seem genuine may be, but they too, are not perfect. Also, a lot of people in the mass media have things done to make themselves appear better than they are. Or they have work done changing the design that God intended for them. Not realizing their worth and beauty as they were created and even as they age. Most of us, like to post the good stuff and not always the not so easy stuff. I personally would rather share the wonderful things about my life, than the hard stuff. I am sure most of us are this way as we want to highlight the good and work through the less desirable situations, not on display. We are all human, no one is perfect, we all have different struggles. There is no perfect person, family, life. We are in this life working through our own things. How quickly we assume or make judgement that others have it all together, all the time, with a cookie-cutter life. We all have things we go through. We’re all human. No amount of money, fame, stories that we tell changes that. When we feel tempted to judge ourselves by the assumption of another’s seemingly perfect appearance or life; may we remember, we are all learning and growing in this life. We all go through our own set of things. Maybe people look at us the same way, thinking everything is perfect all the time in our lives. Even when things are mostly good, this life is not perfect. However, when we have God and a relationship with Him; we are as close as we will get here, because of His peace and His hope; even when things are not perfect. When we ask Jesus in our heart and we follow where God has called, we have the hope of a truly, genuine, perfect life, someday in Heaven with Him.

Friend, we need to stop comparing ourselves to what we think we know. For God knows our hearts and he knows all parts of us. He isn’t persuaded by social media or things of the like. We should not be either. We need to spend more time just being our best versions of ourselves, following His word, and living our lives for Him. For if we are doing that, then that truly is something grand! Head up my friend, no one is perfect; may we stop comparing. May we choose instead to have a relationship with God. May we put more precedence on who God says that we are. His opinion is the one that counts, the one that matters. May we live out our imperfect lives, the best we can; for His glory! For anyone can tell a story, but God knows the heart. When He looks at ours, I hope He can say, “well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Erin Fitts-Brower

Galatians 6:4-5 NIV

Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.

1 Samuel 16:7 NIV

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

1 John 3:1-3 NIV

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Matthew 25:21 NIV

“His master replied, ‘well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”