The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines envy as “painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage”
Do we allow resentment to fill our hearts and minds? Do our thoughts and actions reflect this envy? Do we spew envious words when we speak?
To simplify, we would say that envy is simply the desire to have what someone else has. This desire does not have to be reasonable. It doesn’t even have to be the need of the hour nor a want that will satisfy us by any means. We have all experienced envy at some point or another in our life. We may or may not have realized that we were being envious.
I can tell you that I have felt envy when I have seen couples in love or in a relationship and watching mothers with their babies. I wished to have that experience.
What is your envy?
Photo by Murilo Folgosi
Identifying what makes us envious helps. It will help us be more aware and also conscious of what makes us act, behave or think in a certain way with someone or in a certain situation.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 is a calming verse for me.
“To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under the heaven”.
It reminds me that God is sovereign and he has a time, a place and a purpose for everything and everyone including me. So envying someone or something is not going to get me anywhere except to a place of bitterness or sadness.
Do you feel envious? How do you cope?
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