Jealousy of the Ideal

Jealousy of the Ideal

I’m sharing this with you because it’s something that just recently came into my life, ran across my mind, and has forced me to think deeply about it for a couple of days now. It’s something I’ve never, ever considered before, but something that is very true and worth thinking about it.

Just the other morning, I was reading a devotional by Charles Stanley (my husband has gotten me to absolutely LOVE his ministry and resources), and it was talking about the sin of jealousy. Now, I have a lot of other weak areas in my life, but jealousy really just isn’t one of them. Now, I’ll admit, there are times when, yes, I do look at what someone else has accomplished, attained, etc. and don’t automatically throw a “yay-for-them!” party in my mind. Sometimes, I wonder why God didn’t gift me with that ability, task, accomplishment, etc…. but I don’t dwell there. My mind doesn’t park in the lot of “I want what she has.” For one, it’s just not healthy. And for two, it’s a serious waste of fuel. Ultimately, when your mind is parked somewhere like that, the scenery doesn’t change; you’re sincerely going nowhere fast.

Thankfully for my sake, the devotional didn’t stop at the sin of jealousy concerning wanting what others have and leave me trailing off into my day thinking my life was perfect-a-mundo and everything within my heart and mind was hunky-dory; rather, the devotional began to talk about jealousy of the ideal. And here’s where jealousy trips me up every time. No other person has to be involved in this transaction-of-the-heart, mind, and attitude. Jealousy of the ideal simply creeps in long enough to look at what you currently have, compare it to what-was or what-could-be or what-might-have-been, and leave you feeling like you deserve more. Sadly, this happens far more than we give ourselves credit (debit?) for. In the words of Charles Stanley, the thought process behind jealousy of the ideal goes something like this, “I deserve more than You’ve provided, and therefore, I don’t trust that You truly give me Your best.”

Wow!

And ouchy-boo-boo.

If that quote didn’t sting a little when you first read it, be my guest and re-read it. Hey, if you’ve got the time to spare, re-re-re-read it until it marinates in your mind and sinks into your soul. I know that’s what I’ve been doing lately.

And while we’re talking about it, the use of the word “deserve” in that quote really struck a chord with me. Hasn’t God already given us so much more than we’ll ever, ever, ever deserve? We need to remember that. I need to remember that and stop being a brat about all this other nonessential-and-very-temporal stuff.

I want to make sure that my words and thoughts don’t further distract from that powerful statement by Charles Stanley; so, to wrap this up quickly, I’ll just leave you with this:

What in your (our) lives is so flashy, needed, important, impressive, fill-in-the-blank, etc. that it robs us of trusting God for His best? The answer should be nothing. Absolutely nothing. But, honestly, what is it for you, right now, today? Search it out and lift it up to Him. Whatever “it” is, it’s not worth robbing you of your trust-relationship with the Lord.

Next time you’re (we’re) struggling with jealousy of the ideal (situation, relationship, career, opportunity, etc.), remember that God loves you and has already given you absolutely everything He sees fit that you need.

When we fully grow to trust Him, jealousy of the ideal is erased and we’re left holding the only thing in the world that’s truly ideal anyway – our trust in an unshifting Savior in the midst of an ever-shifting-world-of-circumstances. :)

This Christmas/holiday season, forget about mere happiness and gift yourself some joy by exchanging the jealousy of the ideal for full-on, for real trust in God’s ultimate best.