I had a friend I used to be very jealous of. Whenever something good was happening in her life I was just automatically sad and depressed “God why not me” this was like three (3) years ago. I remember having to delete her number because I didn’t want it to start having negative thoughts due to jealousy. I’ll not lie, deleting her number helped but not all the way. Then I had to introspect, why am I jealous of this person? It felt like her life was a whole lot better than mine and God was just being very unfair to me. Everything seemed to work out for her. Now, I took a different approach, everytime the thought came, I would pray for her instead and pray for my heart. Eventually it stopped.
There will always be someone doing better than you. “Life is in phases and men are in sizes” - my wise friend once said.
You need to learn to be content with where you are. I remember God teaching me contentment and a beautiful analogy is “You will be working at Olaniwun, but you will still be jealous of Vazilegal. For context. Lawyers might understand because these are two different firms. Now let me explain. Olaniwun Ajayi is one of the Tier 1 law firms in Lagos. The equivalent of the big 4 in legal practice, Vazi legal is a Tech firm founded by Moe (if you’re on twitter you would know her) and Vazi legal represented someone daring to go all the way out and create something for herself. So I could work at one of the biggest law firms in Nigeria and still be feeling inadequate because “what if I was like Moe?” and had the guts to start my own firm. The comparison never ends. Learn to be content.
I’ll leave you with a couple of scriptures.
All things are working together for your good. - not one or two, all things. - Romans 8:28
God has plans for you. He has good plans. He wants to give you a future and a hope. - Jeremiah 29:11
My grandmother was praying for me recently and she prayed that I get a good job after law school, and then it dawned on me. I’m not in the least bit worried about getting a job after law school. I’m not worried about what would happen. I’m so sure that God has plans for me. I was grateful for understanding because in school I believed I had no hope of getting any job.
Last year July, I applied to so many firms for internships, got rejected, for NYSC my first PPA rejected me, I had so much anxiety and I was just scared about my next step but when she prayed for me I noticed that I had peace, I had a certain type of confidence. I CANNOT BE STRANDED. God has not brought you this far to leave you, he hasn’t. .. After law school I won’t be job hunting. I’m sure of it.
However life has principles and if you apply these principles in the right amount and in the right way you will get results. Don’t just sit there and wallow. You’re not good at something ? Start working on it. I’m not a good writer, in fact when I wanted to start ABBA’s love letter the thought overwhelmed me and it still does everytime I pick up my phone to type but I also know that I get better by doing not by wishing.
Finally brethren,
“Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.”
Galatians 6:4-5 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.6.4-5.NLT
Do your work diligently and don’t look at any man. Focus on your journey. As always, I’m rooting heavily for you, heavily !!!
❤️
This is beautiful ❤️