The Unholy Competition
Blog Post by Becky Leach
As the year seems to be closing in on us, I can’t help but do a little self reflection. One of the themes of struggle for me this year is competition. And it has me wondering, since when did women become so competitive with each other?
After a lot of thought, it dawned on me that women have been competitive since the beginning of time. Look at Sarah and Hagar or Rachel and Leah! If we are being honest with ourselves, I’m pretty sure we would all admit we have been found competing over something recently.
Sure, we compete in the school’s chili cook off or a heated game of monopoly every now and then, but unfortunately I’ve been wrestling with the other kind of competition. The kind that happens silently, in the deep spaces of our hard hearts, in the isolation of our homes.
Yes, friend, I’m talking about when we criticize others. Their giftings, their dress, their words, their parenting decisions, their jobs, their career choices. I’m sad to say I could go on and on and on. Not only have I been a recipient of this criticism, but I’ve also shoveled out my fair share.
Sisters, we have got to change something. Because what I have found to be TRUE, is that when we are confident in who we are - secure in our own skin - we become less competitive with others. We suddenly don’t look at their success and see our failures or visa versa. We don’t see their mistakes and smirk inside because it makes us feel better about all of our junk.
Instead, when we know that we have our own unique purpose under the umbrella of God’s Kingdom, we can come alongside these same women and cheer them on, celebrating victories and being trusted with mistakes.
When we start to exchange competition for compassion we are able to lift everyone up, becoming acutely aware of who God created all of us to be.
Philippians 2:3 tells us to “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” This is where we should aim to be, friend. The place where every decision, every thought, every idle word thrown out is done in humility with the forethought to regard others higher than ourselves.
And it’s my suggestion here - no, it is my experience - that when we get our own hearts rightly centered on God, unholy competition will cease.
Well, except when you have Park Place.
Becky Leach
Becky is an artist, instagrammer, wannabe runner and obsessive coffee drinker. She is mom to three crazy kiddos and married her high school sweetheart, who just so happens to also be her State Representative. The beat of Becky’s heart is to equip women in living their best life, fully engaged with the love of Jesus while passionately running toward their unique calling.
Connect with Becky:
www.beckyleach.com
Instagram : @beckyleachtx