Walk with Him: Don’t Compare

It would be easy to only think of Enoch as the lucky man who was so righteous, he and his family were taken up to heaven. Boy, did he have it good! But as with all quick judgements, we are missing the “rest of his story.” (You can read it in Moses 5-7).

As a therapist, I’m fully aware of the painful struggles that are hidden from view with those who appear to be on the top of the mountain, living an easy, peasy life, filled with plenty. I hear the stories of people who “look good”, but privately are dealing with trauma, depression and more. It convinces me no one gets to skip the messy, the “in process of time” (Moses 6:21) painful polishing of this life.

Comparison with others is a faulty, worldly measurement tool. A favorite poem, Desiderata, explains, “If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.” A better choice is to love others and learn from them while being assured Christ knows your whole story, warts and all. Regardless of where you are in the path of life, focus your eyes on Him, talk to Him, turn to Him. He knows you better than anyone else and He will do everything he can to bring you and everyone, home.

“President Henry B. Eyring, in his October 2018 General Conference talk "Try, Try, Try," shared a piece of advice from a district president when he was a young counselor in a district presidency: ‘Hal, when you meet someone, treat them as if they were in serious trouble, and you will be right more than half the time.’”