When Life Feels Like a Competition
Encouragement

When Life Feels Like a Competition

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  • March 17, 2016
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I had an interesting conversation with the young man who drove me round town that day. The ride was nothing like I anticipated. Despite the hectic traffic, ongoing constructions of the roads, ceaseless hooting and yelling from other motorists, somehow our journey was enjoyable.

My chauffeur talked about his on-again and off-again relationship. His frustration with his partner was weighing him down. He was hoping to settle down soonest but now his intended bride was pulling back. 
“Why the hurry?”, I asked.  He paused, thought for a while and responded, I just want to get
married early, that’s all.
 
Really??? Like steam puffing off my head, did I just hear that? Then I asked…
Is there a set target for you to get married?
Is there a competition that you were hoping to win?Marriage is the last thing to do when you feel…. “let me get on with it because everyone I know is putting a ring on the finger”!

Same goes for other life issues. We need to make sure it is right for us and we are ready for our next project.

 
Why do we drag ourselves into unnecessary pressure in almost everything?
 
Who cares if all your besties got married before you? Or you were last to get a decent job? Or the one who lived in the most undeserving neighborhood?
Yes, I get it. It worries me too but do you notice that it is you who is getting worked up about it. 

 God will make all things beautiful in His own time, not your time, not your prescribed timing!

 
My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute
me. Psalm 31:15
We place irrational expectations, set the scale to jump and wonder
why we end up with a broken limb.
Well one way or another, I have been there!
 
If you are wondering why your life feels like a race here is the thing, until you do away with the competition, you will remain on those tracks. 
 
There is a big difference between setting reasonable goals then making attempts to fulfill
them and making unattainable goals and whining why things don’t swing our way.
It hurts friend I know.
 
The competition, the silent wars, constant checking in of who did what, when and where is a frustrating venture, don’t invest in it.
I get it you want to do better, but whose call is it?
 
Your Will versus God’s Will?
 
Your Plans versus God’s plan?
 
Our life long path, tailors down to our everyday decisions, choices and plans. God can rescue us from the needless looks across the room to see who’s got the prettiest dress, ‘nicer life’, adorable hubby or kids.
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 2 Corinthians 10:12
Oh My!
 
Your life doesn’t have to be run like a race competition and should not be based on worldly
standards.
 
Life should not be lived in an awful hurry and *permit me to say* especially in a bid to win a senseless competition.
 
You are free from the bondage-race friend.
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated
according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his
own will: Ephesians 1:11
God says you are free to be who He has called you to be. You are free because you are predestinated. Don’t be in a rush of trying to run behind someone else on their own tracks. 
 
Recently, I have been praying along these lines and I want to share it with you. Please
join me and say this word of prayer.

 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, let my will be swallowed up in Your will for my life as I lay all my desires and goals at your feet in Jesus Name. Please chime in friends, is your life looking a lot like a competition? It is time to break free from those shackles and beginning living your life for God’s glory.
 

By His Great Grace,
Ifeoma Samuel

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  • "We are free from the bondage race"
    Love this reminder today!

  • When we learn to be the person God has called us to be, then we can experience freedom. Sadly, sometimes those qualities about ourselves are the very things family and friends shame. I experienced this countless times with my sensitivity. Then, one day, I read a verse that says "How long will you shame My glory?" and I realized that my sensitive and soft heart is God's glory in me.
    Thanks for linking up with Grace and Truth!

  • Such a well written post!! Freedom is everything! Thank you for this!

  • "Until you do away with the competition…" Words I needed to be reminded of, again and again, unfortunately. Thanks for sharing these words of yours today that remind me to get off of the track and slip onto a path through the woods.

  • Oh how I needed this today, Ifeoma. I have been running that race so hard lately that my anxiety is through the roof. Thank you for this important and much needed reminder today: "You are free from the bondage-race friend." Amen :)!

  • It is so hard to remember that life isn't a race. Especially when you are younger and everyone else around you is moving past you at lightening speed. It is always amazing to see how God provides in miraculous ways when we just rest in His timing. His ways and timing are so much better for us! Great reminder tonight, friend!

  • Hi Ifeoma – we have featured this post on the Ruby for Women blog today. Hope you have a minute to stop by for a visit! Thanks so much for sharing, Nina @ Ruby for Women

    http://rubyforwomen.com/2016/03/when-life-feels-like-a-competition-by-ifeoma-samuel/

  • Great post, Ifeoma! I made some very poor choices for because of this very same reason. When I was young, I had a vision and plan for how my life "should" go. I forced the issue and felt the effects as my world crumbled around me. I am praying your prayer with you for all people, especially the young.
    Blessings and smiles,
    Lori

  • Thanks for this encouragement, Ifeoma! We make our lives into a race, don't we? I've been reading about the Israelites in the desert. When the cloud moved, they moved. When the cloud settled over the tabernacle, they stayed put. I want to be led by God too instead of racing ahead of Him!

  • Yes! Though the competition is often with myself. Dates, plans, improvements – I'm sure God shakes His head and giggles at most of my "plans". I'm taking some time next week on vacation to just drop all of it and spend time with my family and resting in Him. I can't wait. Wonderful post today, thank you:)

  • Ooo, oo, oo, Ifeoma!! I couldn't read this and especially the verses without shouting them in my head! Amen. My husband and I have a practice when people around us are "ahead" of us (and they usually are) of taking a step back and talking about why we're "way back here." When we do that, we end up talking about the steps the Lord has asked us to take and how wonderful being in HIS will is. Not that those around us aren't- but we don't want His Will for them to be His will for us. We love that His plans are personal, specific, and just-for-us. What a blessing!! Thanks for this reminder!

  • Great perspective and reminder! Thanks for linking up to Works for Me Wednesday!

  • Ah, yes. It is so hard to wait for God's timing and will. We get so excited about our own plans. Thanks for the reminder!

  • I have had so many friends rush into marriage because they felt pressured to get married before a certain time in their lives! Thanks for this encouragement!
    Cathy

  • Great post. We do tend to treat life like a competition sometimes, whether we mean to or not. I always wanted to get married young but I'm so glad I waited for my husband and didn't rush into anything.
    Thanks for sharing on the Shine Blog Hop!

  • It is hard to wait on God's timing when everyone around us seems to be moving forward. But His timing really is perfect. Thanks for sharing at Weekend Whispers1

  • It's so hard in this day and age to live life other than in competition. It always forces me to slow down and look at things through the lens of the gospel and remember that the race I'm running is not a competitive race but a long-haul and the goal is not to "outlive" others but to make it to the ultimate prize – side by side with Christ Jesus. Thank you for this reminder! <3

  • I've learned early on that competition can either be good or bad. Dwelling on competition and letting it eat me up has done nothing but bring me anxiety and fear. God has delivered me from that by teaching me that I work for God and not for man! Great reminder!

  • Love this! I often have to step back and wonder why I am rushing something and remind myself to Let it go and let God work.

  • Thanks for sharing your post on FMF. It's not surprising that we all struggle with this rushing, then releasing ourselves to God and His deliberate timing. Your friend, in spot #9, Christina

  • Ifeoma,
    I am going to share this with my daughter. She will soon be 28 and most of her friends are married or starting to have families. So true the God will make everything beautiful in HIS timing…not ours!
    Blessings this day,
    Bev xx

  • We possess such a FOMO mentality (fear of missing out)! Thanks for this encouragement that God is the master-builder, and there is no need to rush to break an arm, a leg, or even a friendship. God's got this (and us)! Great post – saw you on 100 Happy Days link up! 🙂

    ~ Ruthie from http://www.rearreleaseregroup.com/

  • How incredibly hard it is not to compete. Some of us were taught so young to always compete, to struggle, to hustle. But life doesn't have to be like that…

  • We are free to be who God has called us to be. These are words to be remembered because they are SO freeing. We just need to keep our eyes focused on our Lord instead of on people around us. A lesson I need to learn myself.

  • It's so easy to get caught up in what we see everyone else doing! I agree – God's got it all planned out, let's wait patiently and when He gives us the go ahead, then it's time 🙂

  • His time – not ours. We so easily forget that, and we continue to compare ourselves with others – babies, cars, houses. Really, I think I'm over that the older I get. I love your blogs. They are so well written and interesting to read.

  • I definitely think we live in an age of comparison, especially with social media at our fingertips. But I don't think that it's wrong to be anxious to marry young as in your example. We don't know his heart behind that, and it may not be a negative or competitive thing for him. But you are right, God is doing different things in each of our lives and we ought not compare our story to someone else's!

  • As a full-time blogger I find myself pushing myself to do more, more, more and I feel bad when I'm not doing as much as I feel I should be doing. You have mede me take a step back and think and realize God's will for me will be fulfilled. Yes, I will have to do work, but I need to take some time to be still and wait on God.

  • Amen! God's timing and plan are always perfect even if it does not fit our own timing. Running a race is one that requires perseverance and to finish strong we need to hold onto God to get us to the finish line. Blessings!

  • So relevant – especially in the blogging community! We put a lot of pressure on ourselves, don't we! Thanks for this breath of grace-laced air!

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