I think of the Imaginary Woman often when I fall short.  I’m not even sure when I first met her, but it was sometime between becoming a mother before I was even close to ready and living as a ‘sometimes single’ mom for seven years. I never meant to invite her into my life, yet she is notorious for hanging around far past her welcome.
You know the one - that imaginary woman we all tend to measure ourselves against when we're bitten by the comparison bug. Learn how to leave comparison behind and say goodbye for good!

She is the imaginary woman I tend to measure myself against when I’m not satisfied with my efforts from my own strength. “But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.” 2 Corinthians 10:12 So often I forget that God is actually more greatly glorified in the stark reality of our human inadequacy. When we’re weak – that’s when He shows himself strong.

It’s on days when I’ve had a lack of rest or troubles abounding that I am most prone to compare myself to those around me. I wonder how other women seem to “do it all” when all I really need to do is surrender to His strength and remember I was never meant to carry that burden. I need not rely on my limited abilities or even look to those around me, but rather go to the throne of God in prayer, seek His face, and rest in His power.

Weakness is not something to be ashamed of nor is it something to hide. My weakness reveals God’s strength and shows exactly what He can do through me that I have no ability to do on my own. Like the apostle Paul, we must recognize our sufficiency comes not from ourselves, but from God.’ Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God” 2 Corinthians 3:5.

The fact is, that other woman I’m prone to compare myself to doesn’t really exist. I will never measure up as long as I measure myself against an imaginary standard that none of us can meet. Indeed, that standard can only be found in our sinless Creator Himself.

The Imaginary Woman

Let’s talk more about learning to give ourselves grace right here and here too!  And I’d love to hear about what you’re learning in this journey called life – please share in the comments below  🙂