The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 
John 10:10

 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love. 
Psalm 103:8

---

As I stepped out of my car after my commute to work, I found myself needing to pause, take a few breaths, and collect myself before walking into the building to start my day. I became unexpectedly emotional after listening to an episode of a podcast where the hosts interviewed an author about her latest best-selling book. Why am I crying just hearing someone talk about a book I’ve already read not once, but twice?

Hearing and celebrating someone living into their passions and gifting will, quite literally, drive me to tears. 

While I’d love to say those tears were all joy and delight, celebrating a person accomplishing a huge goal, living out their dreams and gifts, and receiving accolades with humility and gratitude—I’d be lying because there was a twinge of jealousy in those tears, too. How often do we see someone doing something they love, or accomplishing something, or even experiencing a tiny moment of joy, and we feel the bittersweet pang of envy in the midst of our happiness for them? In my experience, seeing someone living out their full, God-given glory can feel nearly intolerable—I am captivated by its goodness but can barely stand it because of the yearning I feel to experience the same. Rather than celebrate, I believe the lie that I am not enough. 

It is in these moments that I must remind myself that God doesn’t limit the amount of passion and purpose that exists in the world. The gifts and the accomplishments of others do not take away from God’s purpose for my own life. It’s not a game of balance—if one gets goodness, the other cannot—nor are the gifts and blessings of God a finite resource. 

Our God is a God of abundance, pouring out love and grace in equal measure in an infinite supply. Jesus came that we might all have life to the full, not just some of us. Celebrating and delighting in one person does not make anyone less worthy of celebration and delight. One person living out their calling from the Lord does not mean others cannot do the same. 

Our accomplishments and dreams aren’t our identity—God sees us and loves us regardless of what we do or don’t do in this lifetime. Full and complete forgiveness is available to all. Christ’s love is abounding and abundant. 

So when the lies of the enemy try to steal our delight in others by telling us we are not enough, we can pause, breathe, and listen to the voice of Jesus that says “I have come so you (yes, you!) may have life to the full.”

Next Steps

Where in your life are you experiencing the stronghold of envy? Be honest with God and pray or journal about it. In a posture of surrender, pray that you would trust in God’s abundance for you.