I so desperately desired to have the things she had and believed I could never obtain them.
So I became bound by the chains of jealousy.
I was too unhappy with my life and who I was to realize that God never intended for me to be like
her or possess the things she had. That was her life, not mine. I did not know that I could feel
beautiful, have love, or a real relationship with the Lord in my own way, and not in the way that
was designed for someone else. I was unaware of the fact that I could have my own unique identity
in Christ, and not settle for being a mere clone of the next woman.
When God opened my eyes to who I could be and all that I could possess in Him, by choosing to
proudly walk along my own path that He designed for me, it was one of the most revelatory
moments in my life! You see, He showed me that I didn’t have to envy other women who have self-
love, confidence, and direction in their lives. I, too, could have the same things while embracing
the unique individual He fearfully and wonderfully created me to be.
When I internalized this wonderful lesson God taught me, that is how I was set free from envy.
Today, I understand that it is perfectly okay to admire others, as long as we don’t begin to
compare and lose ourselves in the process. Sometimes we can focus so much on what we love
about other women, that we begin to magnify what we dislike about ourselves. It’s fine to look at
another confident or successful sister and aspire to be those things, as long as you go after it the
way the Lord leads you. He never intended for us to try to follow along the same path that was
designed specifically for someone else.
I am thankful that God has matured me and taught me how to look up to other women without
being envious of the qualities or lifestyle they possess. When I see an individual who owns a
quality I would like to enhance within myself, it motivates me to dig within and pull out what God
has already placed within me.
That is healthy admiration.
When we learn to celebrate others without envy, we can remain happy and spiritually whole. We
won't get caught up in wanting to be so much like someone we look up to, that we begin to imitate
them, become jealous, and dismiss the amazing woman God strategically orchestrated us to be.
We cannot walk someone else’s path in life, because then, we will never find our own true identity
or destiny.
Someone is depending upon you to embrace your own uniqueness, and confidently walk in the
purpose and power that God has given directly to you.
Did this article touch and minister to you in some way? Email lcollins@eewmagazine.com.
So I became bound by the chains of jealousy.
I was too unhappy with my life and who I was to realize that God never intended for me to be like
her or possess the things she had. That was her life, not mine. I did not know that I could feel
beautiful, have love, or a real relationship with the Lord in my own way, and not in the way that
was designed for someone else. I was unaware of the fact that I could have my own unique identity
in Christ, and not settle for being a mere clone of the next woman.
When God opened my eyes to who I could be and all that I could possess in Him, by choosing to
proudly walk along my own path that He designed for me, it was one of the most revelatory
moments in my life! You see, He showed me that I didn’t have to envy other women who have self-
love, confidence, and direction in their lives. I, too, could have the same things while embracing
the unique individual He fearfully and wonderfully created me to be.
When I internalized this wonderful lesson God taught me, that is how I was set free from envy.
Today, I understand that it is perfectly okay to admire others, as long as we don’t begin to
compare and lose ourselves in the process. Sometimes we can focus so much on what we love
about other women, that we begin to magnify what we dislike about ourselves. It’s fine to look at
another confident or successful sister and aspire to be those things, as long as you go after it the
way the Lord leads you. He never intended for us to try to follow along the same path that was
designed specifically for someone else.
I am thankful that God has matured me and taught me how to look up to other women without
being envious of the qualities or lifestyle they possess. When I see an individual who owns a
quality I would like to enhance within myself, it motivates me to dig within and pull out what God
has already placed within me.
That is healthy admiration.
When we learn to celebrate others without envy, we can remain happy and spiritually whole. We
won't get caught up in wanting to be so much like someone we look up to, that we begin to imitate
them, become jealous, and dismiss the amazing woman God strategically orchestrated us to be.
We cannot walk someone else’s path in life, because then, we will never find our own true identity
or destiny.
Someone is depending upon you to embrace your own uniqueness, and confidently walk in the
purpose and power that God has given directly to you.
Did this article touch and minister to you in some way? Email lcollins@eewmagazine.com.
LIKE THIS FEATURE? SHARE IT!
April 25-May 8
| EEWMAGAZINE.COM |
| Copyright © 2011-2014 EEW Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. |
I remember some years ago, I deeply admired this
lady I knew. In my eyes, she possessed
everything I thought I wanted - Beauty, love,
success, popularity, personality, and a deep
relationship with the Lord. To me, she was the
ideal woman. I never had the courage to
approach her and tell how much I adored and
wanted to be just like her, so I marveled from
afar.
Pretty soon, I began constantly comparing myself
to her. And you know what? In my insecure mind
I could never quite measure up. Though I tried, I
felt that I would never have her beauty, charm, or
anything else I loved about her.
lady I knew. In my eyes, she possessed
everything I thought I wanted - Beauty, love,
success, popularity, personality, and a deep
relationship with the Lord. To me, she was the
ideal woman. I never had the courage to
approach her and tell how much I adored and
wanted to be just like her, so I marveled from
afar.
Pretty soon, I began constantly comparing myself
to her. And you know what? In my insecure mind
I could never quite measure up. Though I tried, I
felt that I would never have her beauty, charm, or
anything else I loved about her.
LaKeisha Rainey-Collins is a wife, mother
of two beautiful boys and inspirational
blogger. She believes that God has
purposed her to use her gift of writing to
share her experiences as a Christian
woman, wife, and mother, in order to touch
the hearts of other women just like her.
Email LaKeisha:
kcollins@eewmagazine.com
Connect on Facebook
Facebook.com
of two beautiful boys and inspirational
blogger. She believes that God has
purposed her to use her gift of writing to
share her experiences as a Christian
woman, wife, and mother, in order to touch
the hearts of other women just like her.
Email LaKeisha:
kcollins@eewmagazine.com
Connect on Facebook
Facebook.com
| BI-WEEKLY COLUMNS |
EMAIL:
Earlier this week, I received a Facebook
message from a young lady expressing her
admiration for me, and her desire to know
the Lord even better. With her permission,
I am sharing a little of what she wrote.
“I don’t know what it is but I’m just so
drawn to you (your spirit). I see your posts,
and I can almost feel the joy and happiness
that you have in your life and truthfully, I
envy you (Not in a bad/jealous) type of way
though. I can just tell that you have such a
"Real" relationship with the Lord and that
you’re a true "woman after his own heart!”
message from a young lady expressing her
admiration for me, and her desire to know
the Lord even better. With her permission,
I am sharing a little of what she wrote.
“I don’t know what it is but I’m just so
drawn to you (your spirit). I see your posts,
and I can almost feel the joy and happiness
that you have in your life and truthfully, I
envy you (Not in a bad/jealous) type of way
though. I can just tell that you have such a
"Real" relationship with the Lord and that
you’re a true "woman after his own heart!”
 | |  | |  | |  |
I truly desire to feel and know Jesus the way that you know him…”
When I read that message, I felt humbled that someone I don’t know can see the light of Christ
shining through me. It is only because of God's grace that I have come to know Him as my
personal savior, and that same closeness is available to us all. As the Apostle Peter says in
Acts 10:34, "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism.” His love, favor, and
presence is available to us all.
As I reflected on this message I read, I knew in my heart that the sender's sweet words came from
a genuinely sincere place. But, it also made me think about how I used to struggle with that
“bad/jealous” type envy she referenced. At one time, I did not know how to walk that fine line
between admiration and jealousy.
When I read that message, I felt humbled that someone I don’t know can see the light of Christ
shining through me. It is only because of God's grace that I have come to know Him as my
personal savior, and that same closeness is available to us all. As the Apostle Peter says in
Acts 10:34, "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism.” His love, favor, and
presence is available to us all.
As I reflected on this message I read, I knew in my heart that the sender's sweet words came from
a genuinely sincere place. But, it also made me think about how I used to struggle with that
“bad/jealous” type envy she referenced. At one time, I did not know how to walk that fine line
between admiration and jealousy.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
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