The thief of joy, this concept that we truly can have joy and delight in the Lord, regardless of our circumstances, regardless of what we have.
But oftentimes, through comparison, it leads to envy, and that really steals our joy.
And envy is something that steals any contentment that we may have had.
And so I want to talk about two different verticals, kind of forming across here with my hands, two different verticals to the concept of envy.
And we are recording this for some of the ladies, but we're going to take off the discussion part so that people don't hear that.
So there's a vertical dimension to envy, right between us and God, our relationship with God, that really results in, it's an issue of a lack of trust paired with a lack of gratitude.
We become envious when in our relationship with God, we don't trust him, or we aren't grateful for what we have.
And then it's a horizontal dimension as well in terms of envy.
In our relationship with others, it's actually rooted in a lack of love for our neighbors.
This may sound weird, but we're going to look at some scriptures to really flesh out what this looks like.
So between us and God, it's a lack of trust and a lack of gratitude.
And with us and others, it's a lack of love for our neighbors.
So I'm going to pose that when we understand that we as believers have the most valuable thing that has ever existed since the dawn of time,
when that truth and that reality hits us to our core, gratitude and thanksgiving is just the natural outpouring of our hearts in response to salvation from death.
When we understand, like, at our core, the most amazing thing we could ever have, the most amazing thing we could ever be, the most amazing thing we could ever do has already been done,
gratitude and thanksgiving and praise is the natural outflow.
And our attention is moved from what we don't have but want toward what we have but don't deserve.
I think that's a really important mind shift that oftentimes when we do end sinning in envy,
it's because we're comparing to people that have what we want but we don't have.
And it's helpful for us to think about what do we have that we don't deserve?
And there's a lot of things we're going to talk about later in the natural world that we actually do have as blessings that we may be taking for granted.
But ultimately, it's our salvation.
So I'm going to ask a couple volunteers in your Bibles, whether it's on your phone or whatever.
I have four verses I'd like us to read out loud and to discuss maybe some common themes we're hearing.
Can I have a volunteer read Romans 5, 8?
Lauren?
Lauren, Romans 5, 8.
Ephesians 2, 8 through 9.
Aubrey, Ephesians 2, 8 through 9.
And then Amanda, can you do 2 Corinthians 5, 21?
5, 21.
2 Corinthians 5, 21.
And then the last one, Romans 8, 31 to 32.
Okay, Mina.
Romans 8, 31 to 32.
Okay, so it's Lauren, Romans 5, 8.
Aubrey, Ephesians 2, 8 through 9.
Amanda, 2 Corinthians 5, 21.
And Mina is in Romans 8, 31 to 32.
So I'm going to ask you guys to read them slowly because everyone's not going to be able to follow along in writing for those that are not auditory processors.
So let's listen to these verses.
And we're going to talk about a common theme that maybe you hear.
Aubrey, can you share Romans 5, 8 with us?
I mean, sorry, Lauren.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this.
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing.
It is a gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one knows.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him you might become the righteousness of God.
What then shall we say in response to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all,
how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
So what are some things that are sticking out to you guys that you're hearing?
He saved us when we were a mess?
It's a gift.
He what now?
It's a gift.
He knows how to give three gifts.
He died for all of us.
He's given us all things.
Yep.
Not a result of works.
Yep.
It's not because we deserve it.
Anything else?
They're so nice to see you.
so
so the question really comes down to do you believe that god has been gracious towards you
and giving up his only son for you
do you really believe that you have what you don't deserve and that you actually have it
all things in jesus
and if you believe that god has been gracious towards you
and giving up the most precious thing he could have ever given
do you believe that he would be ungracious and ungenerous towards you
in your current situation
if god was gracious in giving his only son do you think he's going to be
ungracious and ungenerous towards you in whatever your current situation is
and that temptation
to believe that god is withholding good things from you
goes all the way back to the garden of eden
eve thought god is withholding good things from me
therefore i gotta do something about it
and again i'm not going to compare us to men because that would like kind of like be ironic
um
teach back comparison
but i really do believe ladies that this is something that like we do really deeply struggle with
is this concept
and i remember um it was such a blessing to me
it was about a year a year and a half ago
um bailey was spending some listening time praying for me
and she heard the lord say
such a simple phrase
and i have been meditating and chewing on this for like
over a year
she
the lord told bailey to tell me
i'm not withholding anything from you
do you remember that
was this the cabin
huh
was this the cabin
i don't remember
i think it was before that
it was like a long time ago
withholding nothing i think was the phrase you got
withholding nothing
well whether she remembers it or not
it was deeply profoundly impactful
because at the time
i really was where i still am now
like lord why am i not married yet
lord why do i not have the career that i want yet
lord why am i still struggling financially
when before like i was like financial abundance
lord why you know all these different things
um and so i really have had to take some time to wrestle with that
why do i believe he's holding good things for me
because that is not truth
that is not what we see in scripture
um
so yeah that that is an age-old temptation that
it's gonna continue to be a temptation to think
and so we really have to root ourselves
in scripture and not just have these trite little
you know cliche things like
oh no no i'm doing me
my life is good
or whatever you may be tempted to say
like at a deep core level
we have to receive that message of like
he gave us everything in jesus
right like everything else is just icing on the cake after that
literally
um so there's an aspect of envy
that is actually in romans 12 15
it's a failure to rejoice with those who rejoice
and weep with those who weep
and so um it's this concept that
if we're envious of what someone else has
right if i'm envious of that co-worker
who keeps getting that kind of praise
or um you know that that sister
who keeps getting married and having a kid
and having all these you know these types of things
or financial success
we end up not being happy when they succeed
and we end up rejoicing when they don't
and that is scary right
that shows in our hearts
that something's off
that something's off there
and so um if we're weeping when others rejoice
and we're rejoicing when others weep
um i think we may need to take some time
and reflecting and confessing that to the lord
and asking for his grace and his help
um to deal with that
because at the end of the day
we don't deserve eternal life
and communion with god
we've done nothing to earn that
yet by his grace
and through his mercy
he freely offers us
the most wonderful gift
that we could ever have asked for
and this should get you more excited
than any news you could ever receive
than any person asking you out
than any positive pregnancy test
than any boss sitting you down
and telling you you're just getting a promotion
like this news
when we really sit with it
should make us even more excited
than the top five things on our list
that we're asking for
being like answered in a day
can you imagine
if you had five things you're asking for right now
and in a day they just all happen
how like what a good mood you'd be in
right
let's be in that mood today
because we understand
the amazing vastness
and profoundness
and just glory
of the gift that we have
in our salvation
so when we start from that perspective
in life
when we consider our life
and what we don't have yet
and what we still desire
I think a lot of these verses make sense
because if not
it can come off as almost like unempathetic
if you're just like
well you know whatever
you're not going to always get everything you want
well okay
yes that's true
but like we also need to find a way of like
really grappling and wrestling with some of these feelings
that we may be like
why am I dissatisfied
in life right now
I do feel like I'm languishing
is there something off in my expectations
so yeah I would just say like
when we start understanding
that like our cake of life
is sweet
salvation
is the cake
eternal communion with the Lord
will be that cake
and everything else is just icing on it
the blessings in your life
the promotions
the spouses
the spiritual gifts
whatever
that's just icing on the cake
helps us live with perspective
right
I think that's really important
to see that the blessings
make life even sweeter
than it already is
it doesn't make it sweet
so Sean actually has a sermon on this
that I'm not going to go super in depth on
but I am going to post on Slack afterwards
some recommended listenings
for resources for you guys
he did the sermon on when we were going through Exodus
Exodus 2017
is one of the commandments
so I'm just going to
quote his
read his little quote
and then we're going to
go into some more discussion
so he says
so coveting
is similar to envy
are you guys all familiar with the concept of coveting
okay
and so the
passage says
do not covet
can I actually have someone read
Exodus 2017 real quick
and then someone else
James 4 1 through 3
2017
okay Skyler's going to read
Exodus 2017
and then can someone else
read James 4 1 through 3
and we're going to
reference back to both of those later
James 4 1 through 3
Lydia
okay great
Lydia's going to do
James 4 1 through 3
okay so these two
two scriptures
we're actually going to
reference later as well
so Exodus 2017
and James 4 1 through 3
hit it Skyler
you shall not covet
your neighbor's house
you shall not covet
your neighbor's wife
or his male servant
or his female servant
or his ox
or his donkey
or anything
that is your neighbor's
what causes quarrels
and what causes fights
among you
is it not this
that your passions
are at war within you
you desire
and do not have
so you murder
you covet
and cannot obtain
so you fight
and quarrel
you do not have
because you do not ask
you ask
and do not receive
because you ask wrongly
to spend it on your passions
you adulterous people
do you not know
that friendship
with the world
is enmity with God
therefore
whoever wishes
to be a friend
of the world
makes himself
an enemy of God
awesome
so we're just going to
again read what Sean
wrote about this
from his sermon
because it's so good
and coveting
is a bitter root
that brings forth
many more bitter roots
so it's a sin
that leads to other sins
James 4 1 through 2
says
what causes quarrels
and fights among you
is it not this
that your passions
are at war within you
you desire
and do not have
so you murder
you covet
and cannot obtain
so you fight
and quarrel
coveting what belongs
to another
leads to murder
which is a violation
of the sixth commandment
coveting your neighbor's wife
leads to adultery
a violation of the seventh commandment
coveting your neighbor's ox
his donkey
anything that your neighbor's
leads to stealing
a violation of the eighth commandment
in this way
coveting can lead us
to break every single
one of the commandments
intended
to help us love our neighbors
as ourselves
coveting is
by its very nature
anti-social
so when we think about
that God part
of the relationship of envy
and then we think about
the horizontal relational part
that's a lack
of love for our neighbors
when we covet
it's by its very nature
nature anti-social
I love that concept
and it can lead to
so many other sins
but having desires
for good things
isn't bad
right
having a desire
to be able to share
with others
from scripture
more quickly
is like such a beautiful desire
all the desires
that you guys said
again
spouse
baby
job
whatever it may be
like
those are beautiful
things to desire
so the question becomes
what are we to do
with the desires
that we have
if it's an issue
of wanting something
we don't have
or that's not ours
what do we do
with those desires
you just push them down
and say
well whatever
that will be done
do we just
ignore it
do we make
15 million Pinterest boards
of like a vision
and manifest it
until like it becomes ours
we're called to do
two things
ask
okay three things really
and then surrender
and trust
we are called to ask
for these desires
but then
our response
once we've asked
should be surrender
and trust
so can I have
someone look up
Philippians 4
6 through 7
Lauren
and then
Lydia
I'm going to have you
reread again
when she's done
just verses 1 through 3
from James 4
just verses 1 through 3
okay so this is
Philippians 4
6 through 7
and back
we're coming back
to James 4
1 through 3
and so
again we're talking about
what are we to do
with these desires
we're called to ask
and then surrender
and trust
so Lauren
can you go ahead
and read
do not be anxious
about anything
but in every situation
by prayer
and petitions
with thanksgiving
present your request
to God
and the peace of God
which transcends
all understanding
will guard your hearts
and your minds
in Christ Jesus
what causes quarrels
and what causes
fights among you
is it not this
that your passions
are a role within you
you desire
and do not have
you murder
you covet
and cannot obtain
so you fight
and quarrel
you do not have
because you do not ask
you ask
and do not receive
because you ask wrongly
suspended on your passions
so what's standing out
to you guys
in these verses
as it relates
to your own desires
and your own needs
to ask
and then trust
and surrender
how are you hearing
those verses
I'm hearing like
what are your
priorities and motivations
behind those desires
that's good
why do you even
desire it
to begin with
I like it too
because
when you bring
something to the Lord
it sort of
forces you to
check and make sure
that it is a good thing
that you're desiring
that
like
you know
it is a good thing
that you want to
bring and ask the Lord
you don't want to
just ask him
for something
that you're like
oh this is actually
maybe simple
yeah
that's good
I think it's a really
big deal that you're
taking it to the Lord
not just
sitting in silence
you know
afraid to ask
yeah
like God wants us
to come to him
with all of our
desires and wants
and like
yeah they can be
unholy
but like
we'll work through it
with God
rather than like
pushing it inside
and kind of brushing it aside
which is what I typically do
and like I remember
during the prayer
seminar thing
that Pastor Sean did
like he made the analogy
of like
God is our Father
and like
like
y'all come to him
with everything
that they
want and desire
um
yes I think that's
a helpful comparison
for me
yeah
yeah are you bringing
everything to him
yeah
that's good
anyone else
I think like
oh
oh no no no
sorry I was
brushing my hair
um
I was gonna say
like this
um
I think I'm a little
confused about this
because you asked
wrongly to spend it
on your passions
mm-hmm
is he saying
um
is that more
I don't know
if that's more
talking about
the motivation
behind it
because I think
my fear would be
that I would not
bring requests
before God
because I
like oh
I don't wanna
ask God for this
because I know
my heart behind it
is
I'm scared
it's um
it's like
got gross
motivation
behind it
or like
I'm kinda guilty
of why I want
this
and um
I don't know
and so
I'm not sure
or if he's just
saying you ask
wrongly
um
because
you're
suspended on
your passions
of life
I don't know
mm-hmm
it's a really
good question
it's the next
point I was
gonna highlight
so that's
great
good job
um
it's basically
kind of what
Kendall was saying
in that
if the desire
is rooted in
selfishness
God's gonna
not necessarily
answer that
prayer
but
prayer has a
way of making
us aware
of those desires
so even if
it's a desire
rooted in
selfishness
you should still
pray about it
because
prayer has
a purifying
influence on us
and as we pray
more and more
and as like
even prayers
that go unmet
you may be like
wrestling with this
and like God
why not
and he may
bring conviction
oh
because
you don't actually
want this for my glory
you want it for your
comfort
or you don't actually
want it
what
it wouldn't be good
for you
yeah exactly
um
it's not my plan
for you
I have something
better for you
I have something
even better
for you
um
so yeah
it's not a call
to only pray
when you're holy
pray in all things
in everything
bring everything
before him
but also be aware
that prayer does
have a purifying
influence on our
desires
that the more
you pray
the more you're
actually gonna pray
God's will
because there's a
convicting aspect
that happens to that
um
because at the same
token
prayerlessness
can result in a
lack of blessings
there are things
that we can miss out
on in life
because
we either don't
trust God
to pray
or we don't
think he's gonna
do it
he's not willing
um
or that prayer
just doesn't work
we discount
the power of prayer
um
so yeah
I think it's
both and there
that's a good
question
this is slightly
overrated
but there's a
really good
analogy for like
when you ask
for things for God
you might not
give you exactly
what you think
um
it's basically
like this analogy
of imagine
you're asking
God for like
a small teddy bear
and then behind
his back
he's holding
a really big
teddy bear
ready to give
that to you
but you're
asking for
the smaller
bear
and so
I just
thought
that would
be a cute
picture
yep
and he's like
no I'm not
giving you that
teddy bear
and the girl's
like I was
too holding up
he's like
because
yeah
do we really
understand that
Abba father
is that in
every situation
even when you
don't realize
the big teddy bear
for what it is
if he ever says
no I'm not
giving you that
specific teddy bear
it literally is
always because
he has something
better for you
and better for you
may be
continuing to wait
where you grow
in intimacy with
Jesus and Jesus
alone
better for you
may be a season
in the wilderness
because he's preparing
you for incredible
ministry
I don't know
yeah that's a good
question
is that answer
satisfying
yeah I think
I struggle
with the
you're not
going to receive
because you
asked wrongly
and then that
can get really
almost like
self condemning
a little bit
but I think
it's going
even that
to God
and being like
I'm struggling
with this
yes
he wants to
love on that
yeah and I
don't think
he's saying
you ask
wrongly
so don't ask
I think
he's saying
but where
there are
things that
are
motivations
he may not
give
because
it's not
his plan
for you
or whatever
you know
did you have
something you
want to say
no
sorry
okay so
so if
great
awesome
rock star
I have
I'm aware
of these
desires
okay I do
not have
these things
yet but I'm
not coveting
them in my
neighbor
so what do
I do
I ask
and I
surrender
and trust
awesome
I'm four
years in
into
asking
and surrendering
and trusting
now what do
I do
what do
we do
with desires
that continue
to go
on men
with prayer
requests that
we believe
are holy
that we've
prayed this
prayer
Lord if
it's not
if my
motivation's
off
if my
desire's
off
let me
know
and I'll
let it
go
and you
continue
to lean
in and
you're
like
no I
think
this is
what you
want me
to pray
for
and I'm
going to
continue
to pray
for it
but I'm
not seeing
any movement
what do
we do
with those
desires
how many
of you
in one
way or
another
big or
small
feel like
you're in
a season
of waiting
most of
us
I feel
you
let me
tell you
I feel
your pain
on so many
levels
some of you
have been
waiting longer
than me
I get it
and I just
think of like
amazing stories
of like
Mina's family
praying for
their dad
for what was it
like 15
years
you guys
sought the
Lord
persistently
what a good
desire
of course
that God
wants to
answer that
prayer
but you
didn't
give up
you didn't
throw your
hands up
after 10
years
and say
well we're
not going
to break
because clearly
this man's
heart ain't
going to
change
15 years
they prayed
for her
dad's
salvation
what are
you doing
in between
while you're
waiting for
those answers
and you
believe God
is powerful
and he
wants to
move
but he's
not yet
for me
this is the
first time
in my life
that I have
come to
learn and
grow and
appreciate the
beauty of
the discipline
of lament
and lament
is something
we don't
talk about
a lot
well actually
in our
church we
talk about
a lot
but I
would say
in the
big church
big C
church
we don't
talk about
lament a lot
something I
love about
our church
we're actually
very honest
about it
and so I
had never
been exposed
to it
before coming
to Trinity
no I
literally knew
lamentations
of the book
of the Bible
didn't know
anything about
what lament
meant
and so lament
is a beautiful
spiritual practice
that is
absolutely
100%
a part
of every
believer's
life
so if you've
never been
disappointed
in life
you've never
had to work
through the
concept of
lament
I promise
you you
will
at some
point
between now
and heaven
you're going
to have
deep deep
disappointments
and deep
deep
things that
grieve you
on a deep
level
and promises
you believe
God's given
you that you're
waiting and
he hasn't
answered yet
because it's
a part
actually
it sounds
backwards
but again
we live in
an upside
down kingdom
it's how we
grow in our
intimacy with
Jesus
in our
sufferings
we get to
know him
in a way
that you
never will
in all your
answers
your prayer
requests being
answered
there is this
element to
suffering
that is
yes we know
the word
refining
sounds so
cold to
me though
there's this
element of
intimacy
and sweetness
and radical
delight
that comes
from getting
to your
rock bottom
and having
nothing to
look forward
to and
seeing that
Jesus is
holding your
hands there
so we have
to learn how
to lament
because if we
just cover our
eyes and we're
like no
everything's fine
I'm fine
everything's fine
that's gonna
take away the
opportunity for
you to grow in
intimacy with him
in that season
so there's a
couple recommendations
I have I'm gonna
post on the
slack channel
this is not a
lesson on lament
and some of you
guys probably
did not think
we're gonna talk
about lament
when we're
talking about
mb in comparison
but I really
think it's an
important part
when we consider
our desires
and what to do
with them
so a couple
recommendations
is there's a
book dark
clouds deep
mercy
and in this
book he
basically
fleshes out
the four steps
of lament
Sean's had a
series on this
we've heard it
from a couple
different speakers
at our church
but the four steps
of lament
are turn to
God
so not turning
to others
and complaining
not turning
inwardly
and getting
depressed
but turning
to God
second step
is lay out
your complaint
let him have
it
he already
knows
you're only
fooling
yourself
let him
know
let him
hear it
this third
step
is then
ask God
for help
don't go
to others
don't pick
up the phone
and call
your best
friend
don't you
know look
within you
and how
do I
become my
best self
you know
with this
desire
whatever
it's ask
God
for help
because he's
the only
one who
can help
you
and the
fourth
and this
is sometimes
the hardest
declare your
trust in him
anyway
even though I
don't see you
working
I know that
you are
working
even though I
don't see
a way
that you
can
bring a
husband
bring a
child
bring a
whatever
it may
be
I trust
you
and I
trust
your plan
for me
so
again I
would recommend
Sean has a
sermon series
from four
psalms
of lament
that we
did last
summer
phenomenal
sermon series
if you guys
want to go
deeper
into this
and then we
also had a
guest speaker
named Dane
Helsing
he came
and spoke
on that
if you guys
heard his
sermon
that was
so I'll
link to that
on slack
in the dark
clouds deep
mercy
so again
we're not
going to spend
too much
time on this
but can I
just have
one volunteer
to read
psalm 130
I want you
to hear
the voice
of this
author
he is not
holding back
he is not
even kind
of like
trying to
sugarcoat
it
psalm 130
and hear
the passion
and the emotion
the honesty
about his
desires
but also
how he
follows
these four
steps
can someone
read aloud
psalm 130
for us
okay go for it
out of the depths
I cry to you
oh lord
hear my voice
let your ears
be attentive
to the voice
of my
please
for mercy
if you
oh lord
should mark
iniquities
oh lord
who could
stand
but with you
there is forgiveness
that you may be
feared
I wait for the
lord
my soul
waits
and in his
word
I hope
my soul
waits for the
lord
more than
watching
for the
morning
more than
watching
for the
morning
oh
Israel
hope in the
lord
for with
the lord
there is
steadfast
love
and with
him
is plentiful
redemption
and he
will redeem
Israel
from all
his
iniquities
love
that
there is
another
psalm
6
that is
a psalm
of lament
and in
the psalm
the author
asks
how long
oh lord
how long
am I going
to have to
wait
seriously
I have
been here
we have
been through
this
and something
I have
shared this
before
in different
settings
but I think
we need
a mindset
shift
instead of
asking
how long
am I going
to be single
how long
are my
kids going
to be
struggling
with
whatever
how long
am I going
to be
stuck
in this
job
when I
am
really
miserable
instead
ask
what now
what would
you have
me do
in this
season
of life
what are
the opportunities
in front
of me
that clearly
you're not
changing
my situation
that you
want me
to really
take hold
of
and squeeze
out
all that
is in
this season
before
you answer
my prayer
so uh
reading Lord of the Rings
big Lord of the Rings
fan
so there's this quote
from Gandalf
oh it's just like
oh it's so good
huh
I was already
thinking of it
yeah yeah
you're probably
sure you've already
already heard the quote
okay so imagine
Gandalf
gray cloak
long beard
and he says
to Frodo
it's so beautiful
all you have
to decide
is what to do
with the time
that is given you
you don't have
to worry about
all the other
things and all
the other
storylines
your life
could have
followed
all you have
to worry
about
is what's
in front
of you
right now
and that's
so freeing
some people
could say
well that's
so limiting
but I think
that's so freeing
when we think
about these
desires
and we're
tempted
to live
someone else's
life
or do
do their
job at work
or be
their friend
to someone
who are
the friends
in front
of you
that you're
called to be
a friend to
or what's
the job
at work
that you're
called to do
so something
that's big
huge for me
because I've
struggled with
this my
entire life
when I am
tempted to
envy and
compare myself
to others
is actually
to journal
and reflect
on God's
specific
faithfulnesses
to me
and so
I'm sure
you guys
have heard
about the
concept
of a
gratitude
journal
I cannot
emphasize
enough
the importance
of being
able to
start
grab a
journal
one thing
a day
wake up
in the
morning
and write
one thing
a day
I did
this about
eight years
ago
and it
transformed
the way
that I
even wake
up in
the morning
the way
that I'm
walking
through the
day
and then
sometimes
instead of
writing down
things I'm
grateful for
I'll actually
pull out
old journals
from that
time
eight years
ago
when I
was not
even walking
with the
Lord
I'll be
honest
and I'm
like oh
my gosh
how much
do I have
to be
grateful for
that I'm
literally not
struggling
with that
anymore
like praise
the Lord
oh my
gosh
when you
really
share your
testimony
with yourself
wow
contentment
and joy
is like
the natural
outpouring
when you
see how
much God's
done in
your life
how much
he's provided
for you
and the
big and the
small
you know
that parking
spot was
awesome
that one
time
like you
know
I was running
late and you
provided for
me
versus like
you brought
my dad
to salvation
like praise
the Lord
whatever it
may be
so yeah
just another
thing
I think
that when
we're
contented to
compare
ourselves
to others
what they
look like
the life
that they
have
we have
to remember
that God
created each
of us
so specially
and so
uniquely
that there
is only
one Aubrey
Penn in
this world
right
there's only
one Natalie
Ma and
that he
has a
specific
story
and a
specific
work that
he wants
to do
in each
of us
with specific
skills
talents
giftings
we each
have a
personal
testimony
to share
and I
think he's
given us
those specific
things to
bring glory
to himself
so when
we compare
ourselves
with others
and try
and be
someone else
or live
someone else's
life
you actually
deprive the
world of
the person
God created
you to be
and the
talents he's
given you
to share
right
when you're
trying to
be you
know
sparkling
in daisies
and roses
when really
God's created
you to be
quiet
and deep
and contemplative
whatever it
may be
I don't
know
you deprive
the world
of who he
made you
to be
and that's
a gift
I just want
to emphasize
he has a
specific calling
and task
for you to
fulfill in
your life
to glorify
himself
through you
that if you're
trying to be
someone else
he gets less
glory
so comparison
is always a losing
game
I'm just gonna
throw it out there
you either compare
and you come
out on top
you're feeling
pretty good
wait I actually
do have a lot
of spiritual gifts
wait I actually
do have like a
smoking hot husband
wait I actually
do have like
all my kids
whatever
they're not as
bad as
someone says
or you become
envious
and jealous
wait I don't
have what they
have
I want all
those things
so like I
really do think
it's part of
like taking
every thought
captive
and being
mindful of
even when
the comparing
thought comes
in
just to be
aware of
that
because
oftentimes
we tend
to downplay
the positive
aspects of
our life
and overemphasize
the positive
aspects of
other people's
lives
but at the
same time
overemphasizing
how hard
our life
is
and downplaying
hard and
challenging
in other
people's
lives
right
so you
can just
get a show
of hands
how many
of you
single ladies
feel at
times
life is
really hard
it's really
hard
how many
married women
feel at
times
marriage
is really
hard
what about
moms
do you feel
motherhood
at times
is hard
unanimous
consent
what about
working women
honestly
like is your
job hard
sometimes
are there
aspects to
your job
that are
hard
it's because
life is
hard
it's never
going to be
better on
the other
side
what God
has given
you in
this pasture
he's given
you to
tend is
beautiful
but it's
also hard
because we're
in the
already
not yet
we're in
this space
where we're
saying
Jesus
come
redeem
this
but I
feel that
pain
of you
not being
here
yet
life is
hard
at any
stage
no matter
how many
things you
have
no matter
how many
prayers
go answered
it's still
going to be
hard
because this
life on
earth apart
from Christ
isn't what
is going
to last
or ultimately
fulfill and
satisfy
and we
see this
in Jesus
and the
Samaritan
woman
there's only
one thing
that can
truly satisfy
that can
truly fulfill
all of our
desires
that can
quench
our thirst
I'm reading
from John
4
13 to
14
Jesus
said to
her
everyone
who drinks
of this
water
will be
thirsty
again
but
whoever
drinks
of the
water
that I
will
give
him
will
never
be
thirsty
again
the
water
that I
will
give
him
will
become
in
him
a
spring
of
water
welling
up
to
eternal
life
so I
want to
ask you
guys
how does
that
reality
sit
with you
today
that
nothing
this
side
of
heaven
will
ever
truly
fulfill
our
longings
or
ever
truly
be
enough
and I
want to
hear
what
is there
anything
you find
encouraging
then
about
what
we've
discussed
today
how does
that
reality
sit
with
you
that
nothing
this
side
of
heaven
will
ever
truly
fulfill
our
longings
or
ever
truly
be
enough
I
think
when you
said
that
if you
got
all the
five
things
that
you
listed
today
like
this
I
would
just
have
another
five
things
it
would
never
ever
be
enough
I
would
just
keep
coming
up
that
list
and
like
if
I
constantly
get
what
I
wanted
every
single
time
then
I
would
not
have
a
need
for
Jesus
I
think
the
image
of
a
spring
of
water
welling
up
is
so
freeing
because
it
makes
really
real
what
you
said
earlier
about
how
all
your
needs
are
met
you
get
to
live
free
and
free
from
even
these
desires
because
what
are
they
they're
nothing
compared
to
like
you
are
being
you're
not
just
being
filled
up
and
poured
out
over
and
over
you
are
you've
had
the
water
and
now
the
spirit
is
in
you
and
you
are
like
overflowing
constantly
even if
you don't
realize
it
it's
like
you
have
like
this
is
everything
it's
everything
you need
you're
full
yeah
you're
full
yeah
you have
so much
for
others
too
yep
so
anyone
anyone else
how's that
sit with
you
or
what have
you heard
that's
encouraging
listening
This is fallad out, so you can shred until it goes away, so you'll get up-
i never considered the like like how in the world you hear the trope like be you be yourself
i've never really thought of that from like a spiritual perspective of like no if you're
you're not being who god intends you to be you are withholding his glory from the world that
that wasn't really yeah that was big yeah you're depriving your friends and family and everyone
around you from being who god's called you to be yeah that takes a lot of like faith that god made
you to be good enough yeah or that he's good enough yeah you know that you're not inadequate
and that's hard to believe about ourselves yeah 15 10 let's go what is it by the grace of god i am
what i am his grace to me is not in vain amen amen
yeah that's good stuff guys um so just in closing i want to share um first corinthians 6 19 to 20
super straightforward first corinthians 6 19 to 20 it says you are not your own
for you were bought with a price
everything we have we have been given from god every dollar in your bank account every relationship
you have every spiritual gift that you have every talent all of it and everything above and beyond our
salvation is literally icing on the cake the cake is already sweet the cake is already sad
the cake is satisfying the cake is already nourishing and when we live with that reality and that
understanding at the forefront of our mind contentment and praise and thanksgiving are the natural
outpouring it's that nat we can't help but be thankful and contentment praise and thanksgiving are
the antidote to envy and comparison and it all leads to joy
so i want to take a minute um just a couple minutes i'm going to ask a question you can journal
it or think of think of it on your own or whatever but i want to take five minutes it's 11 27 so um
groups to pray for one another so this is called the tend well prayer
be content in the station he has appointed you to in this season and yet be ever ready to move at the impulse of his love
tend well those things that are before you however humble they be and he will lead you in time to other good works he has
appointed for you whether big or small is of no matter be liberated now from this burden of believing that
anything depends upon you and so be liberated at last to give yourself to his joyful service
in grateful response for the grace he has lavished upon you
oh god of all the prophets you knew us and chose us before you formed us in the womb
fill us with faith that speaks your word hope that does not disappoint and love that bears all things
for your sake until that day when we shall know you fully even as we are known by you amen