Inside: Instead of comparing how we are now with how we used to be, let’s remember that if we’re still here, we still have good work to do. ~

Do you know people—either personally or from afar—who have endured trials and come out on the other side transformed and increasingly confident in their faith? Individuals who exude peace, joy and gratitude when you might expect the exact opposite because of the difficulties they’ve been through?

I don’t know about you, but I love interacting with people who fit this description. Watching God use them as a result of their experiences is both encouraging and inspirational.

But what about those of us who look in the rearview mirrors of our own lives and see something different?

We notice how our struggles have changed us and fear we may never be able to do anything significant again. We look at how we are now, compare ourselves to how we used to be, and think our most fruitful years are behind us.

Sad Comparison

It’s the saddest kind of comparison, because it’s all based on a lie.

The lie is that how we were before—before loss, before disease, before the wilderness, before age, before disability, before the Mack truck plowed into us and wrecked our previous existence—was better. That we were more complete then, more desirable, more effective, more useful.

It’s a lie, but it’s so tempting to believe it.

Truth Be Told …

It’s almost easier to stop comparing our own stories to someone else’s than it is to stop comparing the current chapter of our lives to some chapter from the past.

I’m not talking about surface comparisons such as pounds on the bathroom scale or the number of gray hairs we see in the mirror. Most of us will never look or feel at 50 or 65 exactly how we did at 30 or 40, and part of growing older includes accepting that fact.

No, I’m referring to the reality that difficult seasons and earthquake events in our lives can sometimes alter our ability to minister, lower our energy level and even change our personalities.

It’s Not All Bad

Some of the changes are for the better, of course. As Romans 5:3-4 says, “Affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.” Who wouldn’t want all that?

And yet, when we look at the trial-altered versions of ourselves and examine all our scars and weak spots, it’s tempting to think we’ll never measure up again, that our best days are over, that we’re well past the point of making a difference for the Kingdom.

But even though we feel less useful, in God’s eyes, we are not.

We Still Have Work to Do

According to Ephesians 2:10, “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Those jobs God has assigned to us? They might be different now, but they don’t dry up just because we think we’re washed up. As the 18th-century English evangelist George Whitefield put it, “We are immortal until our work here on on earth is done.”

In other words, if we’re still here, God has something for us to do.

The Bottom Line

None of us gets an advance copy of our life story. We aren’t even privy to sketchy outlines. But we do know the Author of our stories. More importantly, the Author knows us.

And as He weaves the chapters of our lives together, every chapter—however difficult—lays the groundwork for the chapters to come. If even one were missing, our stories would not make sense or be complete.

It’s tough to break the comparison habit when it comes to comparing ourselves to ourselves. But please—don’t believe the lie.

We weren’t better before. We’re more useful now.

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.