Special Deliveries: Overcoming Envy and Embracing God's Plan

Have you ever ordered a package and it was delivered to the wrong address? I remember one time I had ordered a Christmas present for one of my family members. As the countdown toward Christmas got closer and closer, I watched the FedEx truck drive past my house. It seemed to stop at every house but mine that day. I was so frustrated and envious of my neighbors because all their Christmas presents were coming, and mine seemed to be stuck on the slow boat. Later that day, I got a knock on the door. I opened it to see my little neighbor friend holding a box with my name on it. It was the package I had been waiting SO patiently for (not!). The delivery driver must've accidentally dropped my package off at the wrong house. I felt so silly for getting so frustrated and envious earlier in the day over this package.

Oftentimes, we find ourselves stuck in these feelings of jealousy, resentment, and envy. We live in a world that is writhing in jealousy. It has gotten even worse as social media has become more prevalent in our lives. Everyone on social media only posts their highlights. We see all the wonderful things going on in their lives and we envy that. However, don't let social media fool you. Every single one of us has issues and is a sinner. No matter how pretty someone's life looks on the outside, they are in desperate need of God's forgiveness and grace, just like the next person. That being said, we shouldn't ever be jealous about what God does for someone else. Why? Because what God has for you is for you alone. Unlike the delivery driver with my Christmas package,

What is jealousy? Jealousy is a dangerous emotion that arises when we envy what others have. This may be their possessions, success, or relationships. Jealousy breeds discontentment, bitterness, and unhealthy and unnecessary competition. It has the power to damage relationships by eroding trust and breeding insecurity. Jealousy is one of the hardest sins to overcome because it leads to overthinking, a lack of trust, and is detrimental to your mental health. The Bible speaks of jealousy quite often. Proverbs 14:30 tells us, "A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot." James 3:16 reads, "For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind." Proverbs 27:4 says, "Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous." The list goes on and on. It's apparent through The Word that jealousy is not a sin the Lord takes lightly so we shouldn't either.

You may have heard the saying, "God is a jealous God". I want to clarify that the word jealous has two different definitions. Most people think jealousy means wanting what other people have or plotting their downfall. However, that isn't actually jealousy, it's more of what we call "envy". The Bible says that "Love does not envy" in 1 Corinthians 13:4, and "God is Love" in 1 John 4:8. So, the other meaning for jealousy is when someone desires your attention and exclusive worship. This is a better description of the type of jealousy we hear about when discussing God's jealousy.

We must always be cautious and vigilant not to entertain any form of envy. Why? Envy isn't just desiring what someone else has. Often the feeling is brought about by something much deeper than that. The root of jealousy stems from a belief that we are deserving of more than what God has given or sees fit. In scripture, we often see that this attitude is the start of rebellion against God. We need to understand that we don't deserve anything that God has given us in His goodness. So, to say that we deserve anything or to feel entitled is to dishonor God. We can change this attitude of entitlement by replacing it with one of gratitude. Gratitude holds so much power (you can read my post of Gratitude from a few weeks back here). It transforms our inner dialog from "I deserve this" into "I thank God for this". It switches our mindset off of what we are lacking into what we are abundant in.

Jealous people don't always want what you have, they may just not want you to have it. Take a look at the story of Joseph's brothers. His brothers didn't like that Joseph's dreams displayed his success, and they did not want Joseph to see his dream come to pass. They didn't try to steal his dream, they just wanted to stop his dream from actually happening. This is what jealous people do. They often make you feel bad about your success. Jealous people can't celebrate you because everything is a competition. The side effects of jealousy ruin relationships. When someone else is being blessed by God, how can we be jealous of what God is doing in someone else's life? That win for them is a win from God. If it's a win from God, shouldn't it always be a win for us? It helps to remember that other people have nothing to do with you. When you see a beautiful person, it doesn't make you any less beautiful. They don't take anything away from you and you don't take anything away from them. I once heard a quote that said jealousy makes an enemy, wisdom makes a mentor. How often do we miss learning from someone because we are too busy being jealous about their giftings or blessings?

It's only when we don't believe in God's plan for our life that we can't celebrate with someone else. When we don't believe we have a plan that will come to pass or God hasn't given us specific giftings for that future, we can't celebrate other people. We get stuck in jealousy when we start to subscribe to a lie that God isn't intentional and in control. We often witness someone around us get an unexpected blessing or special recognition. Please, do not be hurt or envious when blessings come to another person. We are not diminished when someone else is added. May I remind you that we are not in a race with one another to see who's the wealthiest, most beautiful, or even the most blessed? The race we are really facing is one against sin, envy and jealousy included.

In thinking of all this, I was reminded of the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel. Hannah was a woman who couldn't have kids. Meanwhile, her husband's other wife Peninnah was able to have an abundance of kids. Hannah came to God crying and weary, and she prayed for God to give her a son. God, in His perfect goodness and wisdom, only gave her one child at that time. Yet, this child was so special. Samuel grew up to serve in the temple and when he was still young, the Lord gave him his first of many visions. As he got older, God continued to be with him, and he became a well-known and trusted prophet. After the death of Eli, he became the Judge of Israel, providing leadership to the Israelites as they struggled and triumphed against the Philistines. We often see other people always getting blessed and feel jealous. Yet, in our jealousy, we are giving into doubt and uncertainty of the plan God has already pre-established for us. God has a special thing for you that He may be saving for that right time. Instead of being jealous of God's blessings for other people, ask God for patience while you are waiting to receive yours. In addition, cultivate an attitude of gratitude for the abundant blessings you have already been given.

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