I have a confession: I recently “muted” one of my best friends on Instagram. This means I still followed her, but her posts and stories did not show up for me. Because I was jealous. Ridiculously jealous.

She was living a version of life that I thought I was meant to live, and every invitation she got, every person she spent time with, and honestly every word she wrote led me down a dark, helpless hole of comparison.

Thanks to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I decided to mute her and spend some time away from her in the social sphere.

I couldn’t trust the truth – that I was actually happy for her, and celebrating her success. I knew that deep down. But the lie was louder than the truth. The lie that I’m missing out.

Allowing ourselves to follow the path to the depths of comparison is like being at a banquet…

Letting comparison take hold of your heart is like being at a banquet, a feast, with your neck permanently turned to one side, only staring at the food and setting in front of the person next to you. Before them, you see a plate overflowing with delicious food, and you want it for yourself.

My story was not my friend’s story. What God has prepared for me, what he has called ME to do, is different than hers. Her table is set – she has everything she needs, and SO DO I.

But if you let the truth that there is already a seat at the table for you win your heart, you can turn your head and realize that you are sitting at the most resplendent table you can think of – a beautiful setting with all the food you could enjoy. The chairs are comfortable, the weather is mild. There are string lights above you. A gorgeous dinner party has been set for you, and all your favorite foods are being served. The food next to you pales in comparison to yours.

My story was not my friend’s story. What God has prepared for me, what he has called ME to do, is different than hers. Her table is set – she has everything she needs, and SO DO I.

2 Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

Our tables are set, but it is up to us, to release the grip on our neck and look at our place. Look at what God has called us to and prepared us for. Once we see that, we can know that the seats to our left and right ALSO have their most resplendent table.

Christy Nockels has a beautiful album of lullabies that I have sung over my children for almost 5 years now. One of my favorite songs is “His Banner Over Me.” Oftentimes, in the middle of the night, when I forget the other lyrics, all I can remember and repeat is,

“He brought me to His banqueting table, His banner over me is love,” which is straight from Song of Soloman 2:4. 

I encourage you to sing the same lullaby over your heart, too. God has a place JUST for you. Even when you feel stuck in comparison, ask Him to guide your heart and head back to the truth – that there is a banquet set just for you.