“It was so hard to leave Timmy at his first day of kindergarten today,” my friend said. “I had to turn my head so he wouldn’t see me cry.”

 “You have no idea how much it hurts to be separated from your child!” I snapped. 

Due to my (then) constant battle with anorexia nervosa, I was no longer able to care for my small children. I would’ve given anything to have my children returning home to me after just a few short hours of school.

Looking back, I still remember the shocked expression on her face. I regret the way I spoke to her. Unfortunately, this isn’t my only regret from those unbearable years when I felt cheated out of raising my children.

 “It’s not fair!” I’d often rage during that period of my life, erupting with the worst kind of jealousy. It was natural to want my children to be with me, but my emotions were out of control. Have you ever envied so much that your thoughts and actions became an ongoing sin issue?

This week, in our progressive goal of meditating on and obeying 1 Corinthians 13, one small segment at a time, we’ll focus on overcoming the sin of envy (verse 4): 

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy … (ESV).

Is there something in your life right now that causes you to be envious? A position you feel cheated out of? A blessing someone else received that you were hoping for, even praying for? 

What if, for one whole week, each time we catch ourselves feeling jealous or envious, we stopped ourselves and thanked God for His plan for us, His love for us, His perfect timing for us? What if we chose to trust our compassionate heavenly Father, knowing He hasn’t forgotten about us, and praised Him for His faithfulness? What if we thanked God for all the ways He has blessed us, used us, skilled us?

During our talks with God, let’s ask Him to show us how He sees our jealousy and how it hurts us and our relationships. Let’s remember, too, how God loves the person we’re envying – and choose to trust His sovereignty (His plan) for this person, too. Then we’ll no longer be ruled by our emotions, but by His love.

What about you?

You can use a pseudonym (fake name) when commenting.

• What is making your jealous today?
• What has your jealousy cost you in your relationships and spiritual growth?
• Is it worth the cost?

If you’re reading by email, CLICK HERE to visit Today Can Be Different online and leave a comment. If you would like to subscribe to this blog and receive the most recent post to your inbox, see sidebar! There’s no charge for this service. AND, I’d be tickled if you would consider sharing this post 🙂