When Everyone Else's Life Looks Better Than Yours

Good morning. This is Morning Prayer from Bearing Fruit.

This morning's prayer is for anyone who scrolled for a few minutes while the coffee brewed and came away feeling behind. Peter once turned and asked about a friend's future, right after Jesus had forgiven him. We'll hear what Jesus told him. Let's bring this to God together.

In John chapter twenty-one, verses twenty-one and twenty-two, Peter has just eaten breakfast on the shore with the risen Jesus. He turns and sees the disciple whom Jesus loved, coming along behind them.

When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!”

John 21:21-22

On the night Jesus was arrested, Peter had denied Him three times. Now, on that beach, Jesus asked him three times, do you love Me? Each time Peter said yes, and each time Jesus trusted him with His sheep. Peter had failed, and Jesus restored him.

Then Jesus told him something hard. One day someone would lead Peter where he didn't want to go. The Gospel says this pointed to the death by which he'd glorify God. Then Jesus said to him, follow Me.

That's when Peter turned and saw the other disciple, most likely John. We aren't told why he asked. Most of us have had that moment, though. We hear something hard about our own road, and our eyes go straight to someone else's. Jesus had just restored Peter, and Peter was already looking at someone else's road.

Maybe it was a wedding photo, and you've been asking God for years for someone to share your life with. Or a colleague's promotion, the one you'd hoped for. You were glad for them, mostly. Then you put the phone down and saw last night's dishes in the sink.

Jesus didn't tell Peter what would happen to John. Both their lives were in His hands. Peter didn't have to carry John's story, or measure his own against it. His part was to follow.

Paul wrote from prison to thank the church in Philippi for a gift.

I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. In any and every situation I have learned the secret of being filled and being hungry, of having plenty and having need. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:11-13

That last line is often quoted alone, as if it meant we can do anything we aim for. Paul is talking about being content, with plenty and with very little. Christ gave him strength for that, and he says he learned it. He told Timothy the same thing.

Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.

1 Timothy 6:6

In Psalm sixteen, David uses the language of Israel's land, where each family's share was marked out with boundary lines.

The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure. The lines of my boundary have fallen in pleasant places; surely my inheritance is delightful.

Psalm 16:5-6

Comparing measures our lines against someone else's. David says the best of his share is the Lord Himself. That's no promise your lines will fall where your friend's did. Some of what you're missing is a real loss, and you can grieve it and keep asking. In Christ, God gives you Himself.

Jesus died for Peter's sins and rose again, and then He cooked him breakfast. Your place with the Father rests on Jesus too, and nothing on anyone's feed can change it.

Let's pray. You can pray these words with me, out loud or in your heart.

Father, Jesus died for my sins and You raised Him to life. Through Him You've made room for me, whatever my life looks like next to anyone else's.

You know every life on this earth. You knew Peter's road and John's, and You know mine. Jesus forgave Peter on that beach and trusted him with His sheep, and You've been just as patient with me. David prayed, “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure.” I'm saying it with him this morning. You're the best part of my share.

You've seen where my eyes have been. I've been measuring my life against other people's. I come away feeling behind, as if I'd been given less. Some of what I feel is an ache, and I'm bringing it to You. I've wanted some good things for a long time, and I still don't have them. You know which ones, and You know how long I've been asking.

But some of what I've done is sin, and I want to call it that. I've envied people You love. I've seen a friend's good news and gone quiet when I could have been glad. I've looked at what You've given me and called it small, as if You'd been careless with me. Forgive me, Father. Peter's failure didn't end his story with You, and mine doesn't either.

Do for me what Jesus did for Peter. When I turn around to look at someone else, turn me back to Him. I don't need to know their story. You haven't asked me to carry it. Teach me what Paul learned, to be content with plenty and with little. He said, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” I'm asking You for that strength today, to be content. Open my eyes to what You've already given me. The people You've put near me. The breath I woke up with. And where I'm still waiting on You for something good, help me keep asking without resenting the people who already have it.

I can't see why my life has gone the way it has. Peter couldn't see what lay ahead of him either, and Jesus told him part of it would be hard. So I'm putting my life back in Your hands, with all its unfinished parts. You've made my lot secure. I'll trust You with the lines You've drawn, even the ones I'd have drawn somewhere else.

I'm not the only one comparing this morning, so I pray for others too. For someone who's been waiting years for a child and saw another announcement today. For someone whose life looks fine from the outside and feels empty to them. And for the people I envy, Father. They may be carrying things I can't see. Bless them, and make me glad when You do.

Father, I'm going into this day with the life You've given me. When I see someone else's good news, let me be glad for them and tell them so. When I start measuring my life against theirs, bring me back to Jesus. Help me give my full attention to the people and the work right here. I don't know where my road goes, or where anyone else's goes. You know both, and that's enough for me. If I catch myself looking sideways before lunch, let me hear Jesus say to me what He said to Peter. “You follow Me!” Give me grace to follow Him today, on the road that's mine.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Take a moment of quiet now, and bring Him whatever's in front of you today.

Hear this blessing from the last lines of Peter's second letter.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

2 Peter 3:18