Overcoming Jealousy

 A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.

Proverbs 14:30 NLT

She seemed to emanate perfection.
She radiated beauty, had a thriving marriage, and was established. I seethed in envy as I compared myself to her. I didn't measure up to her standards and I got discouraged. I began to think how horrible my life was compared to hers. I wasn't grateful for all God's blessings upon me. All I could see was my perceived lack. Have you ever been there? Have you ever been overcome by jealousy? Jealousy has a way of distorting our perception so that we are unable to view reality. Jealousy deteriorates us and causes us not to enjoy the beautiful life that God has given us. We can't appreciate the blessings that we have because we are so focused on wanting what the said person has. Jealousy is sinful and leads to death. Think of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4.

The struggle is real, yes. But victory is ours for the taking. Here are some ways in which I was able to deal with jealousy.

1. Prayer- The Bible says in 1 John 1: 9 that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I had to confess, to agree with God that this jealousy is wrong and ask Him for forgiveness. I then prayed a prayer of blessing over the woman that I was jealous of. I prayed that I would love her as my sister in Christ. I prayed that God would bless her family, her home, her finances, and her marriage. I prayed that God would bless her indeed, enlarge her territory and cause her not to cause pain( I Chronicles 4:10). I prayed that I would rejoice with her instead of being jealous of her. The enemy uses jealousy to bring forth division in the body of Christ. Jesus desires unity in the body of Christ( John 17). Praying for my dear sister in Christ has shifted my perception and caused me to realize that God has called me to love. And love does not envy. ( 1 Corinthians 13)


2. Be grateful- We have so much to give God thanks for. The fact that we are alive and have breath in our lungs warrants us to give God praise and thanks. Gratitude helps our perspective and helps us to focus on God's goodness. We begin to see and realize all of God's numerous blessings that He graciously bestowed upon us. Gratitude is healing. When we are consumed with jealousy, we become ungrateful and bitter. We develop spiritual amnesia, forgetting the goodness of the Lord. But being grateful causes us to remember how good God is and how much we have to be thankful for.

3. Be content- Philippians 4:11-13 says- Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:11-13 NLT
I am still learning contentment and I believe that it will be a continual lesson as time progresses. Through Christ, we are able to be content because we know that God gives us good gifts. God created us and knows us more than we could ever know ourselves. He is the good Father. He knows what will be for our benefit and what would be for our detriment. I am learning to trust in God's timing which is perfect. I love Ecclesiastes 3:11 which states that God makes everything beautiful in its time. Let's chew on that. God is the Master of divine timing. And as his daughters, we are in His hands. Our lives are under His control. So let us trust Him and learn contentment.

4.- Cultivate your own garden-. God has blessed each of us with a distinct array of gifts, talents, and abilities all for His glory and honor. I'm learning to celebrate what I do have and work to let my own unique light shine. This is applying contentment. The saying goes: the grass is always greener on the other side. But what if we tilled our own soil? What if we worked to develop our own talents and giftings? We would be such a blessing to others and to ourselves. Instead of being jealous, work to figure out the natural blessings you have. Let's work on ourselves, working on our own spiritual growth and enrichment. When we begin to cultivate our own gardens, we can admire and appreciate the beauty around us instead of constantly comparing our gardens to everyone else's.
5. Renew our minds with the word of God. Romans 12:2 says- Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:2 NLT
Let's be careful with what we choose to think about. Let's choose to meditate on the word of God. The word of God is true and honorable, perfect for discernment and instruction. Let's meditate on scriptures about the dangers of jealousy and the importance of love. We'll discover that we will grow into the likeness of Christ. Our characters will change and develop. We will know God's will for us. Let's choose to meditate on scripture whenever we feel the waves of comparison try to beset us. Let's meditate on scripture always.

God wants us to live in love with each other. Jealousy is the antithesis of the life that God wants us to live. The good news is that He has the power to change our hearts and our minds as we live in accordance with His will.