Hey, I’m Shannon.
And I’ve been a Comparison Girl for as long as I can remember. Literally, my first memory at age four, is of feeling humiliated because someone found out that I could not read. Oh, the humiliation!
It seems silly now. Why was I so worried about being exposed as an illiterate preschooler? Yet some of my current struggles are just as absurd. Why do I worry about being exposed as a less-than-perfect mom? Or a middle-aged woman who struggles with her weight? Or a Christian who still sins?
Constantly trying prove that I measure up or trying to hide when I don’t, does not lead to a life of freedom and joy. Here’s what does: learning to live me-free. I hope you’ll stick around and join me in learning these lessons from Jesus on me-free living in a measure-up world!
Want to learn more about me? Come visit my “about me” page!
Do you compare yourself?
On social media, in the neighborhood, at church, or the school drop-off lane, do you drive yourself to prove that you measure up? Do you feel ashamed when you don’t? Measuring yourself against others isn’t healthy. And it isn’t God’s plan. In fact, the way of Jesus is completely upside down from this measure-up world. He invites us to follow him and be restored to freedom, confidence, and joy.
Join me, as I share what I’ve discovered about my own measure-up fears and get-ahead pride. In this six-week study, we’ll explore the conversations Jesus had and the stories he shared with people who—like us—were comparing themselves.
Let’s leave measure-up comparison behind and connect with those around us by choosing Jesus’s me-free way of living: lifting others up and pouring ourselves out!
Shannon Popkin helps us take a fresh and challenging look at the everyday mindsets we wrestle with. Showing us God’s higher ways straight from the life of Jesus, she calls us from our me-focused thinking to His kingdom-focused purposes. After this study and with the power of the Holy Spirit, I won’t allow those thoughts to stay around any longer.
If you struggle with measuring up. If you’re worried about what people think. If you dread someone seeing you in a less than ideal situation, then you’re human. We all struggle with comparing ourselves to others in some way. That means we all need Shannon’s honest and wise words on the pages of this book. I know I did and I’m betting you do, too!
Shannon Popkin has done it again! She has masterfully written another must read to speak to the struggles of our soul. Inviting us to look up and listen to the tender truths of God and learning to silence the lies of the enemy against us, Shannon shows us how to finally live freely in a cultural of continual comparison. For every woman who has an area of her life where she wonders if she is truly enough- here is your answer.
Leader’s Kit
March 30, 2021. Sign up for leader updates.
Kit includes:
- 6 Teaching Sessions, which correlate with the chapters of the book
- Both DVD + digital downloads
- One Comparison Girl book
- One Journaling Workbook
- Leader Discussion Guide
Each session is about 18 – 25 minutes long. Dive deeper into what Jesus teaches about the difference between comparison in the world and comparison in the Kingdom.
Journaling Workbook
The companion Comparison Girl Workbook offers:
- A place to record your responses to the Bible study and application questions at the end of each lesson.
- Thought-provoking stories and journal prompts, which correlate to each chapter’s theme.
- Space for taking video session notes, plus the printed verses and additional observation study and discussion questions.
- Extra prayers, quotes, and verses to encourage you on your journey.
- Available either as part of the Leader’s Kit, or as a separate purchase.
Get the Comparison Girl Freebies:
Turn your comparison struggles over to the Lord.
An illustrative drawing in Philippians 2:7-9.
Samples from the Journaling Workbook, plus bonus content.
Screen savers to help you keep your focus on the spout, not the lines.
Comparison Girl Chapters & Quotes:
Author and dear friend, Shannon Popkin, expertly and biblically walks us through several markers and mistakes of living according to comparison in this measure up world and gently points us to a better way. Written with humor and brutal honesty, Shannon sheds the pretense and fights for her readers’ hearts with biblical wisdom, humility and truth. Comparison Girl is a must-read for this generation of girls and the next.
With a humble pen and a bold honesty, Shannon invites us to look closely at our subtle “comparison game” and recognize the truth behind it— Comparison is not just a harmless habit; it’s an all-out attack on the life we’ve been created to live. Using the very words of Jesus, Shannon shows us how to trade the exhaustion of measure-up comparison for the exhilaration of me-free living. Get ready to wage war and take back the abundant life you were created to enjoy!
From My Shop:
I’m on the air with Cru today! So thankful for the worldwide ministry of Cru (formerly Campus Crusade), and thankful for this opportunity to bring the reminder of the One who’s actually in control.
To hear this little clip, go to makingyourlifecount.com or use the link in my bio.
cru #OnTheAir #MakingYourLifeCount #WhoIsInControl #NotMe #NotYou #LookUp
23!! Linds, you are such a sweet daughter and sister. So thankful God gave you to us, and that you’re following Him!!
#happy23rdbirthday #loveulindsaylou #proudofyou
Check your inbox (or spam) for a message from me this morning!
Not signed up for my emails yet? There’s a link in my bio.
I send out my “Live like it’s true!” newsletters once a season, and occasional announcements (like today!).
#bignews #cantwait #checkyourinbox
He is risen!
What a beautiful day to celebrate the risen Lord with my family!
Happy 23rd birthday (in a few days), @lpopkin98 !
Missed you, Nicoloff’s. Hope auntie Fay got settled in.
"[Jesus] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant.. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Phil. 2:6-8)
Today is the day we remember what Jesus, the prize of heaven, did in our place. The one whose cup was most supremely full of glory and power and righteousness, tipped his filled-to-the-brim cup and emptied himself on the cross and “poured out his life unto death" (Is. 53:12).
Jesus endured this shame, not because he had sinned, but because we have. He hung on a tree of shame and death that we might one day have the honor of eating from the tree of life.
If Jesus HAD grasped or gripped or clung to his equal-to-God status (which he deserved), he couldn't have emptied himself in such abject humility on a cross. And if we grasp onto our pride and self-sufficiency, we can't receive the gift of eternal life, which he bought for us on that cross.
The Gospel is this: the one who had a cup brimming full of righteousness emptied himself for the ones who had not one drop.
"And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?"
-Charles Wesley
#goodfriday #Jesusemptiedhimself #Philippians2 #gloryofthecross #andcanitbe
My friend, Erika VanHaitsma is sharing "The Love Story of the Passover" on @reviveourhearts podcast this week! (link in bio)
If you've worked with me as a speaker, you've gotten to know Erika as my amazing assistant. 🥰 But she is also a speaker, teacher, and lover of God's Word!
Erika's passion is to make the Bible become alive with three dimensional color, and she does so powerfully in this five-part series re-airing during Passion Week on Revive Our Hearts. It's so good! I hope you'll take some time and listen.
Erika is also wife to Bryan and homeschooling mom of five kids. They make their home near Ludington, MI.
Connect with Erika at www.erikavanhaitsma.com.
I am so grateful for every one of these amazing people, and every one of these 50 years of life God has given me!
There will be surprises, when we meet each other in heaven. Here in the world things stack up a certain way. Status and greatness seem obvious, but according to Jesus they’re actually not.
In heaven, things don’t stack up the same. In many cases, Jesus says, the stack is flipped and the one we think of as a “first” will be a “last”.
I think Jesus taught this to motivate us. He wants us to untangle ourselves from the get-ahead mindset so that we are free to pursue kingdom greatness.
But it’s good to note that this last-will-be-first greatness probably won’t be celebrated until we get there. Are you cool with that?
If so, you’re on the right track. 😉👊
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#comparisongirl #lastshallbefirst #firstshallbelast #redletterverses #upsidedownkingdom
What if we swapped comparison for prayer? What if we brought our feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness to God, in stead of letting our feelings bring us down to defeat? What if we chose to listen to our affirming Father instead of our shaming enemy?
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Link in bio for my free #comparisongirl bonuses—including this printable set of prayer cards (swipe right for a glimpse).
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The re-centering questions which will help you face the people and situations in which you're tempted to compare with new confidence, security and joy! ⠀
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#comparisongirl #freebies #freebonuses #prayercards #printabledownloads #firstpray #shameoffyou #voiceofjesus #sheepknowhisvoice #upsidedownkingdom #timeinprayer #enemylies #overcomer #liveintruth
In the past 2 weeks, I’ve shared ten messages...
I’ve served six groups...
I’ve traveled to PA, SC, MI..
I’ve connected virtually with a group in Panama, and one virtual group from multiple states...
I’ve talked about control, comparison, surrender and humility...
I’ve shared from platforms with steps and platforms with links...
I’ve communicated using microphones and cameras, laptops and ring lights, a Spanish interpreter, and just some notes in my lap.
Each audience has been unique and special, yet each woman needs the same thing: Jesus, and the wisdom of His Word.
I’m so grateful for every opportunity I get to share truth from the Bible and invite women to live like it’s true.
But, I must say, I’m also grateful for rest stops in between—like my next two non-speaking weeks. It’s Friday y’all.
Is anybody else looking forward to a weekend home as much as I am?
#wepour #Hefills #thankyouJesus #sogratefultoserve #thankyouLord #Christianspeaker #readyforabreak
Friend, there are two kinds of wisdom calling out to you, saying, “You should go this way with your life.” ⠀
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Which will you listen to? Who will you become? ⠀
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Your enemy wants to entangle you in self-focus and the bondage of a measure-up agenda, rooted in wisdom from below. But your Jesus wants to restore your freedom, confidence, and joy with me-free living, rooted in the wisdom from above. ⠀
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#comparisongirl #mefree #measureupworld #twotypesofwisdom #jameschapter3 #wisdomfromabove #wisdomfrombelow⠀
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So grateful for the opportunity to share this post with my Spanish speaking sisters at @avivanuestroscorazones . https://www.avivanuestroscorazones.com/mujer-verdadera/blog/las-dos-voces-de-la-sabiduria/⠀
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Link in bio. ⠀
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For the English post, first published at @reviveourhearts go here: https://www.reviveourhearts.com/blog/two-voices-of-wisdom-james-31318/
What does surrender look like? These girls in the first photo demonstrate it well, don’t you think?
I absolutely loved sharing with the women of “Common Ground” yesterday at @keystonecc in Ada, MI.
It’s been a difficult year for all of us, but these women are opening their hands in surrender to God—and it’s a beautiful thing to behold.
See the woman in the blue sweater? She shared how, decades ago, a dissolving marriage and broken heart is what brought her and her children to the Lord. She looks back with gratitude on the situation that devastated her—seeing now that God truly was in control.
This is just one of many, many stories women shared with me of how God is providing security and joy as they surrender the many out-of-control situations they face.
What does giving God control look like in your life? What’s your surrender story? Have you shared it with anyone lately?
#controlgirl #controlgirltojesusgirl #surrender #grittysurrender #christianspeaker #womensbiblestudy #smallgroups
#Repost @clcpty
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The path of surrender ends in freedom! Jesus invites us to confess what he did: “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
I am looking forward to gathering with my sisters from panama tomorrow evening online! Join us! More information at @clcpty
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¡El camino de la rendición termina en libertad!
Jesús nos invita a confesar lo mismo que Él: “No se haga mi voluntad, sino la tuya” (Lucas 22:42).
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@editorialportavoz @shannonpopkin @CLCpty #mujeres #mujeresdefe #control #libertad #diosestuguia🙏 #dejateguiarpordios😉☝
Some of the stories that @hollyhmyers shares on her #itisforfreedom podcast naturally cause jaw-dropping amazement. But my story isn't like that. I was an average kid with average bondage-to-sin issues and yet God picked me out and set me free. And that DOES cause me to react in jaw-dropping amazement.
I'd love to share my freedom story with you on the #itisforfreedom podcast!
PS. If you listen, you're gonna be able to tell that I totally did not prepare for my "Who would you have coffee with?" question. ☕️Afterward, I was thinking, "Why did I pick two men??! I don't ever go out for coffee with men!" #facepalm 🤦♀️
But now that I've thought more than two seconds, I have my answer for the WOMAN I would choose to have coffee with. Can you guess who?
Link in my bio.
Thanks, @hollyhmyers for inviting me to share!
#Christianpodcast #freedominChrist #tellingmystory #HISstory #podcastguest #freetobe #freedom #freeindeed #womensministry #setfree #livingfree #grace #wearefree #womensbiblestudy
Who are you jealous of? Who has the position or the guy or the baby or the house or the ___________ that you wanted?
And who have you talked to about it? Have you brought your hurt to God?
Since He is the Giver of all gifts, He’s really the One you take issue with, when you say, “Why her? Why them? Why not me?”
Yes, God is the Giver, but He’s also the One who can heal your hurt.
Remember when the Lord talked to Cain and said, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
Obviously God was ready to talk about this. He sought Cain out. The God of the universe was initiating conversation with a jealous sibling. And do you remember what Cain said to God in reply?
Nothing.
The text continues, “Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field...” Genesis 4:6-8
What would have happened if Cain had engaged in conversation about his jealousy with God? What if he had turned to God in brokenness, rather than turning away from Him in angry jealousy and hurt?
Perhaps it’s time to ask the same questions about you.
The God of the universe is available to you. Make time to pray about your
#comparisongirl struggles.
Need a starting place? Get my free Comparison Girl prayer cards.
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Link in my bio.
Got to hang out with these lovelies this weekend in South Carolina, and share about the One who asked us to remember Him with broken bread and and emptied out cup.
Here’s what I’ll remember:
• Laughter about golf carts in the dark, forks in the mashed potatoes, dead Sally and more.
• An oak grove over 200 years old and the lovely sway of Spanish moss.
• Prayer warriors laying hands on me and praying God’s mighty protection over me like thick oil which puts out flaming darts.
• My first time leading communion, my first visit to a plantation, and my first time driving a golf cart.
• Waking up as a 50-year-old with so much to be grateful for— including my sweet friend @sueannosterink who bought me some plates in our favorite colors and Lacie who has a cupcake and candle ready.
• A trip home, reading a lovely card from new friends and birthday blessings from so many others—and looking forward to returning to my love. (Can’t wait to celebrate my half-century mile marker with family and friends this week!🎂)
#truth from the #comparisongirl journaling workbook ⠀
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Visit www.comparisongirl.com for more.
#Repost @monica_malbouef (Thank you Monica!!!)
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Whoop! I have a new favorite coloring book! Thank you @shannonpopkin for the extra surprise 😉 This is a coloring companion to go along with the #controlgirl study that every women needs to read! Beautiful illustrations by @janyretromp - Thanks ladies for sharing your gifts this way!
#reflectionsonsurrender #coloringbook #newcover
Once when Jesus was teaching, a man called out from the crowd, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me" (Luke 12:13). It wasn't the time or place, and Jesus told him so. Then he turned to the crowd and said, "Watch out! Be on guard for all types of greed" (Luke 12:15).
Notice that the man brought Jesus a two-person problem. Two brothers who disagreed about an inheritance. But Jesus used this teachable moment to warn about a one-person problem: greed.
The problem with greed is that you don't know it's your problem. You see everyone else as your problem. Like the person who has a bigger house. The person who has a nicer car. Or the person who goes on vacation every two months.
Even if you could even things out so that you have just as much in your measuring cup as they do, have you rid yourself of the problem? No, because greed is insatiable.
Greed affects people who have surplus ad scarcity alike. It's is a poison that will seep into any available heart, regardless of how thick your wallet is.
So how can we get rid of greed? Many would say just stop comparing. But that's as easy as choosing not to notice that your friend is on vacation again, while you're stuck walking her dog in the snow.
Jesus didn't teach us not to compare. For more, go to my post titled, "How to stop Comparing Wealth."
Leading a retreat or wrapping up a Bible study? Check out my surrender prayer stations. 6 interactive prayer stations to encourage your women to spend some intentional time in prayer before the Lord.
These work nicely with my Control Girl study. $5 in my shop at shannonpopkin.com.
Leaders sign up for my Leader List and get them for free.
#smallgroup #leadsmall #prayerstations #surrenderprayer #smallgroupleader #bowbeforehim #whenwomenpray #biblestudywrapup #womensretreat #controlgirl
