The Thief on the Screen: A Struggle with “Blessing Envy”

The Reflection It starts as a harmless five-minute break on the couch, but it ends with you feeling like your life is somehow ‘less than.’ Have you ever been scrolling through a feed when you see it—that perfectly lit photo of a friend celebrating a milestone you’ve been hoping for for years?

In a perfect world, we would rejoice. But instead, we feel that familiar, sharp sting: The Comparison Trap. It’s a silent thief that whispers, "God is being generous with everyone else while He’s being stingy with me." To be truly authentic, we have to admit that sometimes our first reaction to another’s blessing isn’t a ‘Hallelujah,’ but a ‘Why not me, Lord?’

The Illusion of the Green Grass We compare our internal mess to everyone else’s external polish. We forget that pictures on a screen are flat; they have no real shape. Someone could be sitting in a chair weeping over a broken marriage at the very moment they hit "post." We are envying a two-dimensional image while they are living a three-dimensional struggle, just like us.

The "Mind Your Own Business" Moment Whenever I find myself caught in this trap, I’m reminded of John 21:22. Peter was looking over his shoulder at John, essentially scrolling through John’s future "feed." Jesus’ response is the ultimate cure for the Comparison Trap:

"If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me." What does his path have to do with your calling? Jesus reminds us that He is writing a unique story for us that doesn't require a side-by-side comparison with anyone else.

Strategies for the "Thick of It"

• The "Mute" Button as Stewardship: If an account triggers a sense of "not enough," it is okay to hit mute. It isn't petty; it's guarding your heart (Proverbs 4:23).

• Practice Gratitude as Warfare: Challenge yourself to name three things in your own "messy" yard that are gifts. It shifts the perspective from what is missing to what is present.

• Move from Horizontal to Vertical: Stop asking, "How am I doing compared to them?" and start asking, "Lord, what do You have for me today?"

Real Talk Time (Join the Conversation) I’d love to hear from you in the comments:

1. What is the one thing that usually triggers the "Comparison Trap" for you?

2. How do you pull your heart back when you feel that "sting" of jealousy?