Previous jealousies you overcame

[Jilly81]

This thread is being created to point out that although it's normal to have insecurities, we can overcome them, especially with God's help. Most (probably all) of us have seen things that other people have that we wanted for ourselves, whether it was the way someone looked, something special they owned, or anything at all. I would like to show that we are all unique, and sometimes things that we don't like about ourselves are actually very special.

Please let us know why you are no longer jealous of the person you used to envy, and if you would like, what is was that made you jealous of the other person.

I hope this post translates well into every language .

 

[Jilly81]

I hope this message translates well into any language .


I remember seeing an Asian girl with beautiful black hair when I was little. Her bangs were so even and cut straight across; I had never seen any hair like that! I felt very jealous of her, especially when I realized that my hair wouldn't look the same if it were cut like that, since it was a bit wavy at the time, and not quite as dark.

Another time I saw an African girl with braids in her hair and I wanted to fix my hair the same way. My mom told me that my hair would not look the same if I put it in braids like the other little girl had done. This made me feel jealous as well.

When I was younger I was also jealous of girls with blonde hair because I kept hearing that it was beautiful, like Barbie dolls.

When I got to be a little bit older, I realized that not everyone thinks that blonde hair is the prettiest. A lot of people like dark hair the best.

Now I realize that it doesn't really matter what you look like at all. When you see that Jesus loved you enough to leave His home in Heaven to come rescue you by dying for your sins, it makes the little things not seem as important. Eternity is a long time to get to live with Jesus, and His love is stronger than the bad things people say to us. When I focus on Him and His love, things are put into perspective much better, even though things still sometimes hurt. I hope everyone reading this sees how very loved he or she is .

 

[MissCris]

This is kind of a difficult topic for me...I've been jealous of a lot of people for a lot of reasons, all of them superficial and petty. I'm ashamed of it now, and I don't often feel that way anymore, but it stinks to know that it's something I'm prone to, you know?

Looking back, it's always been pretty, thin girls I've been jealous of- the type of girls that I feel invisible next to.

I still haven't entirely overcome this, but the older I get, the more I realize the value of a person's heart and mind over their exterior. The more I understand that I'm a valuable human being, the less I care what I look like compared to anyone else.

I had written out this long, boring story about a particular girl I have been jealous of since junior high, but it occurred to me that it just...doesn't matter. I'm not bothered by her like I used to be, and that's a huge relief. Jealousy is exhausting and pointless.

 

[maxwel]

Jealousy...


When I was 6 I fell madly in love with my schoolteacher.

It was a painful and unrequited love.
She had another man...
some big oaf she always called her "husband".

Bah.
I hated him.

To be honest, I never really forgave him for stealing her away.
I tried to forgive, I tried so many times...
but I always knew she should have been with ME.

I thought the heartache would last forever, I thought it would never end.
Then a strange thing happened.
I turned 7.
Suddenly there was a new class, and a new school teacher.
(And she was younger).

Now that I'm older, I'd feel guilty for "trading up" like that.
I'd surely feel the quiet agony of the other person's pain...
but I was young then.
I was young and foolish.

So that's what happened when I was 6,
during that horrible year of jealousy and madness.
It was sordid, and painful...
but the truth often is.

 

[Grace-Like-Rain]

I'm not often jealous of other people, but the one time that comes to mind is someone I know (and love) who was laid-back, entertaining, funny and very well liked. I found myself slightly irritated with her and couldn't really understand why exactly. My justification was that she was TOO confident, or tried too hard (trendy clothes, trendy vocabulary), or was snobby, but the truth was I was just jealous of her personality and awesome "cool" factor. Once I pinpointed the sin, it was easier to stamp it out, but I now have to watch myself more closely with things like that.

 

[yeenerae]

I am jealous of my older sister and brother. I am the youngest in the family, i had a hard time before when we were young cause both of them are achievers. while i was the happy go lucky one .

Im thankful to God that i am surrounded by good friends that accepts me for who iam and dont make me feel less than i sometimes feel because of my siblings. And also my family and even my siblings showed me their love and my worth and importance.

Everyone of us is unique in his/her own ways. You just have to believe in yourself and surround yourself good friends and positive people that will help you boost your confidence.

 

[Faithful_Fay]

The jealousy part on my end growing up had to do with family. I grew up with a divorced single mother so money was always tight. All of my other cousins came from a 2 parent household where money wasn't an issue at all. Growing up feeling like the poor relation was hard on the confidence and you find yourself comparing your things and finding yourself lacking. Having my loving and generous uncles and aunts always pay for pool memberships, theme parks, trips, and so on only made me feel worse. It's funny how that works out.

After I came to figure out Jesus and who He was in my life, all of this changed. I gained a new appreciation for the way I grew up, and I wouldn't change it for the world. God taught me to be content through it all and realize what true happiness is and how pointless an emotion jealousy can be.

 

[faniehennig]

Blessed are the Poor!
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Tim 6

 

[melita916]

in my younger days, i would often get jealous of girls who could get the attention from ANY guy. one girl in particular comes to mind. she was dating one of my friends, and i later found out she was cheating on him with another friend of mine. i was like wat? after those relationships ended, a couple of months later, she was dating a guy i liked. i was like aww man! how can she get any guy to like her, and i'm totally invisible? how does she do it! i don't mean the cheating part cuz melita doesn't roll that way.

i've also been (and probably still) jealous of people with great smiles. i don't have straight teeth, and growing up, my parents couldn't afford to get me braces. i could get braces now, but i have other things that take priority. the smile you see in my avatar isn't my "real" smile. my real smile shows my teeth, and it makes me self-conscious.

 

[Practice-English]

I hope this message translates well into any language .


I remember seeing an Asian girl with beautiful black hair when I was little. Her bangs were so even and cut straight across; I had never seen any hair like that! I felt very jealous of her, especially when I realized that my hair wouldn't look the same if it were cut like that, since it was a bit wavy at the time, and not quite as dark.

Another time I saw an African girl with braids in her hair and I wanted to fix my hair the same way. My mom told me that my hair would not look the same if I put it in braids like the other little girl had done. This made me feel jealous as well.

When I was younger I was also jealous of girls with blonde hair because I kept hearing that it was beautiful, like Barbie dolls.

When I got to be a little bit older, I realized that not everyone thinks that blonde hair is the prettiest. A lot of people like dark hair the best.

Now I realize that it doesn't really matter what you look like at all. When you see that Jesus loved you enough to leave His home in Heaven to come rescue you by dying for your sins, it makes the little things not seem as important. Eternity is a long time to get to live with Jesus, and His love is stronger than the bad things people say to us. When I focus on Him and His love, things are put into perspective much better, even though things still sometimes hurt. I hope everyone reading this sees how very loved he or she is .

''Now I realize
that it doesn't matter
what you look like
at all.''​

Jilly81,

that's my favorite sentence...


Just I want to say
without being straight
in sense of I don't want
to put details of my situation,
I want to say to you :
Thank You.

 

[sassylady]

When I went back to work 13 years ago there was a lady 3 yrs younger than me who was a single mom and struggled financially. A couple years later is when I found out my husband had been molesting our daughters and I of course ended up divorced, as well as losing our house, dog and 2/3 of our income, to say nothing of the numerous personal problems it created. So we were both single moms for a few years. Then she met a very good hardworking man who accepted her children (she is also an older mom like me) and they married and her life has completely changed around. We never had any disputes with each other, but she started to goad me about what she had that I didn't. She had new clothes, new car, a house, money to eat out and go on a couple of vacations a year, as well as take their RV somewhere every weekend. It of course hurt to be treated like that, and I still long to have it easy like she does. I have struggled many years on my income, and struggled with jealousy. Not just with her but with anybody who has it so good. But I have grown closer to the Lord and learned to appreciate more what He has done to take care of my children and I. He is the only way I have what I do have. I still feel frustrated at times when I see other people being able to spend money and I have no extra, but knowing Who is taking care of you is what your focus needs to be on.

 

[jogoldie]

I had jealousy for my younger sister for a long time....when she was around.....all attention was on her....
the funny thing is.....she didnt even care.....she wore no make up..... wore her hair in a ponytail.....
and still she looked glamorous.....plus she was funny...

After I accepted Christ.....He opened my eyes to see that things arent often taken into consideration.......
what its really like to be that person we are jealous of....that things arent always as they seem......
because my sister once told me.....getting attention from friends and family is one thing.....but
getting attention from the rest.... is creepy....she was never happy...it was never enough......
so now when I want to be jealous of someone ....I find out what its really like to be them.....
then I realize .....money or not....I have always been satisfied and at peace...loved by those around me...
so what can be better than that.....I have the life for others to be jealous of.....I got my Jesus'....... who
supplies me with all my needs......peace...jo