Is the grass always greener on the other side, or do we just fail to see how green the grass is on our own side, while we focus on other people’s side? Life is all about choice. We can choose to see things the way they seem or the way they really are. Sad to say, life paints a picture of the other side appearing greener or better than where we stand to look from.
I took a picture of myself some days ago and it came out so beautiful that I was forced to tell myself ” You must be kidding me.” I did not sleep all night, and here I was in the morning taking a selfie, (which is very much unlike me) as I was getting dressed in the morning with my itchy and heavy eyes, and I already concluded I was going to look creepy, but my phone proved me wrong by giving me a look so sweet I could not stop laughing alone.
For someone who did not see me struggle through the night as i tried my best not to doze off at any point in time, yearning, talking to myself, and walking around just to stay awake, all that he or she will see if I decide to post the beautiful picture my phone consoled me with after my all night struggle with sleep, will be the beautiful smile and pretty face, not my desire to sleep due to the discomfort my body was experiencing as at the time I took the picture.
Until we learn to appreciate where we are, without trying to compare ourselves with other people, whose struggle, pain, limitations, and discomfort is hidden behind the smile life makes us see, we may never be able to become who God has called us to be or get to where God has purposed for us, as a result of ignorance.
2 CORINTHIANS 10:12(ESV)
“Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.”
Regardless of what you see, always remember that we do not all have it together, we all have what we are dealing with behind the smile, yet an attitude of gratitude produces the fruit of contentment in us, which of course glorifies God.
Instead of focusing on the greens on another person’s side, look at your life and appreciate God for His blessings. Embrace what you have with a heart of gratitude and watch God do for you more than you can ever imagine. What you see on the other side might actually be unsuitable, more stressful and unfulfilling for you. Celebrate your territory and its potential greens, by nurturing it properly.
David would have failed woefully in the battle against Goliath if he had focused on what others had as a form of protection or defense on the other side( battle field). Instead of looking at what others had, that was as a matter of fact of no use at that time, considering that even with the complete physical amour that they all had, they trembled at the sight of Goliath, he focused on the hidden greens that came from previous victories God had given Him over situations when no one was there.
He could have seen the opportunity to fight Goliath as a time to be kitted up like his brothers that he has always seen as warlords prior to this time, but he focused on what mattered most- God’s ability and presence at all times. They had all that the physical eyes could see and call them champion, yet they were cowards in the real sense.
I SAMUEL 17:32-40( NIV)
“David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”
Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”
But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.
Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.
“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the philistine.”
The despised and least celebrated son of Jesse ended up being the channel of deliverance for Israel, even though he did not look like someone who is qualified for such a great victory. His grass was greener than anyone knew.
As unsuitable or irrelevant as you think your life is, hence the reason you desire someone else’s life or place, it will surprise you to know that you are someone else’s perfect example of a life that is desirable, which is the reason you should celebrate what you have and where you are , because your grass is greener than you actually know.
God is working in you and through you to reveal Himself to the world. How you see things is not how He sees them, neither can you fully understand what is a mirage like He does. See your present situation the way He sees it, and you will discover you will focus less on wanting to be on the other side, knowing fully well that your side is a work in progress that is greener than you know right now.
ISAIAH 55:8
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”
Author Profile
- Temitope is the founder of thesoulmeal.com, an online platform that she shares with her God-given spiritual family and friends. She is a speaker, teacher and youth counselor. She is passionate about inspiring people to find their identity in Christ. Catch her interviewing inspiring leaders on Tongue of the Learned Podcast
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