Run Your Race: Finding Freedom from Comparison

I can recall various times I've gone to the gym and decided to run for a bit on the treadmill. Everything usually starts off great until I glance to the side. Next to me, there always seems to be someone sprinting effortlessly, barely breaking a sweat while I struggle to even catch my breath. Without even realizing it, I start increasing my speed, trying to match their pace. My legs start to burn, my chest tightens, and eventually, I have to slow down, feeling defeated. The funny thing about this is, I've never been a runner. I start out great, running at a pace sustainable for me. But by the end, I'm not tired because I was running my race, I'm tired because I was trying to run theirs.

Isn’t that exactly how comparison works? We exhaust ourselves trying to keep up with someone else's journey, forgetting that we were never called to run their race in the first place. I have known since middle school that I am not a runner, yet in that moment, I felt defeated because I couldn't keep up with someone who is a runner. What if the problem wasn't my pace but that I was never meant to run their race at all?

This week I was reading through Moses’ final teachings in Deuteronomy. Throughout the book, Moses reminded the Israelites of God's faithfulness and urged them to obey Him. But what stood out most to me wasn't a major battle or a sweeping speech. It was a quiet moment tucked away in Deuteronomy 3—a moment that still speaks volumes to us today.

The truth is one of the biggest attacks from the enemy that we face is comparison. It takes away the joy of our calling and leaves us feeling inadequate. Comparison is a universal struggle. Whether you're a musician, an artist, a leader, a student, a parent, or simply someone navigating daily life, it's all too easy to look around and feel like you're falling behind. We see someone else succeed, get the promotion, achieve the dream, step into a blessing we’ve been praying for, and something inside of us questions, Why not me? In a world dominated by social media highlights, comparison is almost a reflex. We see select moments of success and joy, rarely glimpsing the hidden struggles underneath. It can leave us feeling inadequate, stuck, and defeated, as if everyone else is moving forward while we’re left circling the same mountains of insecurity, doubt, and envy.

I imagine it would’ve been easy for Moses to feel that way about Joshua too. In Deuteronomy 3:21-29, Moses asked to enter the Promised Land, but God instead commanded him to encourage and commission Joshua. Despite his own desire to enter the Promised Land, Moses had to pass the leadership to Joshua and celebrate what God was doing through him. He recognized that just as God had been faithful in his life, He would be faithful in Joshua’s.

The same is true for us. Just as every part of the body is essential for its overall function (1 Corinthians 12:12-27), each of us plays a unique role in God’s kingdom. Gods gifts and blessings are not limited. He has more than enough grace, talent, and opportunity for all. When we see another person thriving, it’s a reason to celebrate, not compare. Their success doesn’t lessen our calling; rather, it affirms that God is working through all of us in different, yet equally valuable ways. Oftentimes, we see others receiving blessings, success, opportunities, recognition, and wonder why we’re left waiting. Social media makes it worse, showing only the highlights of people’s lives, making us believe we’re missing out. But the truth is, no one’s life is perfect. We all have struggles, and most importantly, we all have a unique journey designed by God.

A few pages earlier, Numbers 33 reviewed the 40 years of wilderness that the Israelites traveled. Israel wandered in the wilderness for years, circling Mount Seir until God commanded them to move forward. I'm sure the Israelites looked around or heard of other people living out the blessings they desired, but God continued to keep them on the path He uniquely designed for them. Comparison often keeps us stuck in the same place, circling insecurity and self-doubt. We look at others and think, I’ll never be as good as them, I'll never look as good as them, why didn’t God give me that gift? or why are they getting opportunities that I’m not? But God calls us to stop circling that mountain of comparison and instead walk in the unique path He has set before us.

The Bible warns against jealousy. Proverbs 14:30 says, “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” James 3:16 tells us, “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” Jealousy can destroy our peace, damage relationships, cause unnecessary competition, and most importantly, create division between God’s people. It comes from a belief that we deserve more than what God has given. But the truth is, we don’t deserve anything. Every good gift is from God’s grace.

So what’s the antidote to comparison? Gratitude and trust. Instead of asking, Why not me?  we can begin to say, Thank You, God, for what You’re doing in and through me—and in others too. Instead of allowing jealousy to harden our hearts, we can celebrate the successes of others, knowing that God’s goodness to them doesn’t subtract from His goodness to you . When we truly believe that we are God’s masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10), carefully crafted for a purpose, we can walk confidently in our own calling. We stop fighting for a place at the table, and start living in the freedom that our place is already secure in Him.

You don’t have to circle the mountain of comparison anymore. You can step forward today, trusting that the God who called you is faithful to complete the good work He started in you (Philippians 1:6). Instead of letting comparison steal your joy, trust that God’s plan for you is unfolding exactly as it should. Just as Moses encouraged Joshua, we are called to uplift and celebrate one another, knowing that God’s blessings are not in competition. Walk confidently in your own calling, knowing that He has prepared a place for you—one that no one else can fill.

May your roots run deep, and your faith remain strong! As always, Stay Rooted, my friends! <3