Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
“Wow, she’s gifted with words,” danced through my thoughts as I read an informative blog post on parenting. The writer’s words dressed the page so elegantly and provoked a feeling of doubt in my heart. The formation of her sentences intrigued readers to continue in their pursuit to the end. This professional presentation of literature triggered an overwhelming inner fear. Perplexed by my emotions, the voice inside my head began to analyze my own writing.
You probably recognize this voice as well. A familiar tone, usually our own, speaking words of rejection from lies we have heard before. The individual conversation inside our head places value to words describing our weaker characteristics, reasoning self-doubt, and chasing away the task assigned to us. I found myself lusting for this writer’s voice. I began to question God’s choice out
of my fear of comparison.
Tears of discouragement streamed down my face. That’s when I heard a still small
voice restoring my confidence in my Maker.
The voice said, “I created you with precision, designing you with a purpose. I crafted you with my very hands. I do not make mistakes, nor did I get it wrong when I assigned you this task.
Yes, her words drudge up emotions and memories from the reader’s past. However, so can you. She writes the message I have trained her to share, as will you one day. I gave you a distinct voice, one like no other. I want you to write like you.
I drew your eye to her beauty, for inspiration and training. Guard yourself against the enemy’s games of twisting what I offer as new awareness strengthening your ability instead of areas disqualifying you for my task. Instead of wishing for something someone does, use that desire as a tool to learn how to improve your craft. View this as a part of your training, intended for your good.”
Oh, the twisted power of comparison. It’s in those brief moments we begin to self-evaluate through tainted lenses. We speak false perceptions over ourselves the Lord never intended for us to hear.
Comparison spreads its thorns throughout us, attempting to choke-out the truth our Creator spoke over us in the beginning. The fall of man began with our need to compare ourselves to God. The serpent lied to the woman by claiming God denied her access to be like Him, obscuring the knowledge found in a piece of fruit. Even though the enemy is crafty, he still uses the same tricks: comparison and pride, as he hinders humanity. He tried to derail the plans of the Lord by using comparison. We serve a God who is all-knowing, all-powerful, and trumped all the enemy’s schemes.
The Lord, in all His wisdom, knew the enemy would use comparison as a weapon to hinder us from His will. Comparison empowers self-doubt. However, when transforming our view, by seeking the root of this comparison with wisdom, it permits a lesson to sharpen and removes the discouragement.
Every masterpiece had another artist influence their design. The inspiration from other works of art strengthens the skills and technique of the artist. It’s a compliment when their craft is studied. Understanding the rules of plagiarism, each artist will tweak their new knowledge to form their desgin. They study the way an artist uses their brush, how to mix their colors and the tools they use to create contrast and textures.
There is only one masterpiece ever designed without any influence from another, the creation of the world. The word bara (בָּרָא, to shape or create) out of nothing is the Hebrew word for this form of creation. God alone creates out of nothing.
Any invention formed by human hands uses another’s ambition, inspiring creative tweaking before its birth, sharpening their design. What a new revelation! The inspiration of others should strengthen my craft lifting the weight of comparison off my shoulders, oh the freedom. I’m changing my focus from sitting in complacency in my weakness to transforming my obstacle into my strength.
As we notice another writer’s techniques, let their sentence formation encourage our voice as we share the message placed on our hearts. Take time to recognize the free training God has bestowed on us. The constant tweaking of our craft keeps us humble, never feeling as if we have arrived. The beauty of being a writer is our complete reliance on the Lord. He equips us with His message, reminding us He is the Potter and we are the clay. It’s in those moments of comparison; He uses the strength of another to ignite the training from within to begin.
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