Fighting Comparison With The Phantom Woman At Christmastime

Click below to listen to this post about comparison on the Candidly Kendra podcast:

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.”
Psalm 23:1-2

When I was a young missionary with Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ), going through new staff training, they taught us about Phantom Staff Syndrome, that is, our tendency to believe that out there somewhere is the elusive perfect person, and that if we try hard enough, one day that can be us.

Recently I’ve become aware of my tendency to compare myself with the Phantom Wife and Mom – the woman I believed I could be if only I tried hard enough. I could have an impeccable home. I could have children who were each others’ best friends. I could give my family the perfect Christmas (even in 2020).

But today God showed me Psalm 23, in the NLT version. It says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I have all that I need.”

My home is a mess.

I have all that I need.

My kids fight.

I have all that I need.

Christmas stresses me out.

I have all that I need.

I have all that I need because the Lord is my shepherd.