In November 2019, social media giant Instagram decided to hide the number of “likes” each posted picture received. Instead of revealing that 73 people liked his picture and 102 people liked her picture, Instagram took out the number. Why the change? Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri explained, “The idea is to try and depressurize Instagram, make it less of a competition.” 

Fascinating, isn’t it? Instagram realized how dangerous (and completely natural) it is to compare your life to the lives of others.

John the Baptist had an even more helpful way to deal with the obsessive comparison disorder in his heart. When some of his disciples panicked as the crowds gave their attention to Jesus, “John replied, ‘A person can receive only what is given them from heaven’” (John 3:27). John had little interest in comparing blessings because he believed that a person could only get what heaven decided to give.

What a relief! You and I don’t have to waste our time comparing our family, our job, our home, our car, our body, our platform, our grades, our stats, our income, or anything else to our neighbors’ situations. Instead, we can receive the one and only life that God has given to us and use it for his glory.

So, child of God, the pressure is off. You don’t need to have any other life than the one you have. Today is not a day to compare but, rather, a day to thank God for his grace and use every blessing he has given to reflect his unfailing love.