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?
The constant effort to prove that I measure up (or try 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!
Is this the first time we’ve met? Welcome! If you have more questions 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!
“Comparison. We all fight it. But for many of us, it feels like we are losing the battle. Why? Because what we need, to combat comparison, is not simply the knowledge that it hurts us, but the tools to resist it, and that is exactly what Shannon Popkin has given us. With fresh insight, biblical grounding, and light-hearted humor, Comparison Girl offers practical steps for curbing this temptation. If comparison is your struggle, this book is your guide!”
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
Now Available!
- 6 Teaching Sessions, which correlate with the chapters of the book
- 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.
Sign up for leader updates.
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 Bonuses:
Comparison Girl Screen Savers – there are 12 in all!
Turn your comparison struggles over to the Lord.
An illustrative drawing in Philippians 2:7-9.
All of these & more!
This book is what I would consider a must read. That’s a lot coming from a 65 year old woman who has walked with Jesus for 47 years and is well read. Here’s the deal. This book caused me to face some things about my own comparisons and how I measure myself against others. It helped me call some unhealthy things out in my own life that I never stopped to realize or face. I am being transparent here because that’s how much I think this book can help any woman who compares with others, finds herself jealous or feeling insignificant or insecure. From years of women’s ministry, I think that might be a lot of us. Thank you Shannon for a remarkable message! (Review on Amazon.)
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.
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!
When Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree, their sin cost them everything—including access to the Garden and the tree of life. Still today, every baby born to them is destined to die.
But God, being rich in mercy and steadfast love, kept his promise. He sent Jesus, the seed of the woman, to crush the serpent and redeem what was lost, there on Calvary’s tree.
Christ alone carves a new path back to God, and back to the Tree of Life - which we’ll eat from in the New Creation, where we’ll live forever.
This is the true story. Will you live like it’s true?
-------------
Follow artist Cheyenne Werner on Instagram @designedbychey or Etsy at DesignedbyCheyShop.
Listen to the Live Like It’s True Podcast, with Shannon Popkin. And sign up for my email list to win one of three 8x10 prints of this painting, "Return to the Tree of Life". https://www.subscribepage.com/shannonpopkin (link in bio)
#originstory
#creationstory
#Genesis
#AdamandEve
#painting
#watercolor
#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil
#treeoflife
#livelikeitstrue
#podcast
#Biblepodcast
#overarchingstory
#onetruestory
#giveaway
#freepainting
#freeart
When you flip the calendar to December, do you notice you start complaining and criticizing? Do you become more negative and controlling?
Yeah, me too. But I’m not resigned; I’m resolved!
Join me for the Five C Challenge! Five days of hitting reset, to help make this the best (not the worst) time of the year.
No complaining.
No criticizing.
No correcting.
No condemning.
No comparing.
Are you in? Let's go!
Sign up link in my bio. Look for "The Five C Challenge".
—
Have we met? If not, hi! I’m Shannon. I’m a west MI author & speaker. My husband Ken and I just celebrated #26years and we have 3 young adult kids, and two shih tzus who (unlike the kids) have no plans of moving out. I’ve written two studies: Control Girl and Comparison Girl (both published with Kregel) and I host the Live Like It’s True podcast. From the platform 🎤, the page 📒, and the podcast 🎙, it’s my joy to invite you to live like God’s Word is true! 📖
I asked my friend @designedbychey to create this watercolor, "Return to the Tree of Life" to correlate with my Genesis series on the Live Like It's True podcast.
So when Adam and Eve ate from the tree, they sided with the serpent and betrayed their good God. Their sin cost them everything—including access back into the Garden and to the tree of life. Still today, every descendent born to them enters this world, destined to die.
But God, who is rich in mercy and steadfast love, kept his promise and sent the seed of the woman—Jesus—to crush the serpent and redeem what was lost, by dying on Calvary’s tree.
Christ alone carves a new path back to God, and back to the Tree of Life. If you and I are In Christ, we'll eat from this tree and live forever in the New Creation.
This is the true story. How can you live like the it's true?
---
Follow artist Cheyenne Werner on Instagram @designedbychey or Etsy at DesignedbyCheyShop.
Listen to season 4, “The True Story of the Beginning” on the Live Like It’s True Podcast, with Shannon Popkin.
#originstory
#creationstory
#Genesis
#AdamandEve
#painting
#watercolor
#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil
#treeoflife
#livelikeitstrue
#podcast
#Biblepodcast
#overarchingstory
#onetruestory
#giveaway
#freepainting
#freeart
He is making all things new. Not all new things.
Join me on the Live Like It's True podcast, for this amazing conversation with Nancy Guthrie. We’re discussing all we have to look forward to in the new Garden City.
Link in my bio.
https://wp.me/p7IZQm-85M
We'll be back for several "Okay, now what?" episodes in 2023. We'll talk through several current issues, and how to live like the story of Genesis 1-3 is true.
#LiveLikeItsTrue #TrueStory #BiblePodcast #StudyGodsWord #BibleStudy #Storytelling #Genesis #originstory #revelation #treeoflife #nancyguthrie #thegospelcoalition
I don’t want to think about the fights I chose and tears I shed in years past—trying to make Christmas decorating day into the festive ideal I had in my mind:
Kids helping me decorate the tree. My husband there, invested in the family moments. And everyone getting along and enjoying the time together…
It never, never ended up that way. I would get frustrated because someone wasn’t doing something right, then blow up in anger, and say, “Fine, then! I’ll do it myself!” And everyone would scatter to their corners while I burst into tears.
Ugh. Here’s what I’m learning: God never asked me to have a perfectly decorated house; God DID ask me to walk in the Spirit. These verses apply on decorating day, too:
“I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want….But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
Galatians 5:16-17, 22-23 CSB
May it be so in my heart and home—and yours!
Check out my Christmas Five C Challenge. Link in my bio.
#christmasdecor #decoratingday #fivecchallenge #controlgirl #surrender
Thank you for joining us for this season of Live Like It's True!
See link in my bio to the final episode of Season 4!
I hope you enjoyed exploring our origin story together. Make sure to catch this last episode where Nancy Guthrie @nancyguthrienashville and I are turning our attention to the part of the story that we're still longing for, which we get a glimpse of in Revelation—the book that comes at the very end of our Bibles.
It has been amazing to feel your support along this podcast journey! I'm so thankful for each and every one of you who has listened! I'm taking a little break here on the podcast to work on my next book, which is a study on the life of Sarah from Genesis 12-21. But I'd love to hear what has resonated with you, or what you'd like to hear next. Reach out and let me know your thoughts! Thanks so much for joining me for this series.
And now it's time to go live like it's true!
.
.
.
#LiveLikeItsTrue #TrueStory #BiblePodcast #theBible #wordofGod #StudyGodsWord #BibleStudy #Storytelling #StorytellingPodcast #ChristianPodcast #ChristianWomen #TheGospel #creationstory #createdbygod #thefall #gardenofeden #manandwife #manandwoman #inhisimage #forbiddenfruit #thedevilisaliar #genesisstudy #thetruthwillsetyoufree #falsenarratives #knowthestory #sharethestory #livethestory #Genesis3 #revelation
Three generations. So grateful for God’s blessings in every season. #treetraditions #threegenerations #happythanksgivng
Just before I was called onto the platform to speak the first time, I remember praying, "God, there is nowhere on earth I'd rather be right now than right here." I was so overwhelmed with love for these dear women of Colombia who attended the “At His Feet” conference in Medellin. @asuspiesmujeres
Their city made me cry out to God. Their questions made me pray. Their worship made me weep.
One question that came in was: "How can I let go of everything and have confidence that everything will be fine?" My response was, "Well, everything might not be fine. But even if you take control, everything might not be fine."
That's the truth for all of us, isn't it? God doesn't promise us a life without pain or trials. The world is broken, and this is particularly true in the beautiful country of Colombia. But here's what we know: God is still in control. He is sovereign over all. And He invites us—his dear children—to put our hope and our trust in Him, not ourselves.
What a privilege to encourage these precious women from Colombia with truth. Will you pray for the 400 women who gathered in Medellin, and 100+ who joined us from Armenia, Bogota, El Salvador, Canada, Hawaii, and more.
Thank you to @editorialportavoz (my Spanish publisher) for making this trip possible, and for Jackie and Marco who traveled with me and translated (Jackie) for me. It was an amazing opportunity.
#colombia #womensconference #teachthebible #controlgirl #surrendertogod #heisincontrol #notmywillbutyours
Have you ever gone to a funeral for someone you don't know? You might be feeling a little sad, but also secretly wishing you could get back to your day, right? Contrast that with going to a funeral of someone you've known and loved from the beginning till the end of their life—someone you long to see again.
You can find the new Live Like It’s True episode in my bio.
We experience loss differently when we know the full story. We have a fuller understanding of what has been broken. And we have a deeper longing for resolution. Well in this last episode of the series, we're going to turn our attention to the part of the story that we're still longing for, which we get a glimpse of in Revelation—the book that comes at the very end of our Bibles.
I'm so delighted to have Nancy Guthrie back. She was with us in our first episode of this series, where we talked about Eden's Fall. Nancy Guthrie is an author, speaker and Bible teacher.
What I love about Nancy is her grasp of the whole story of the Bible. She has such a brilliant understanding of how the pieces fit together. This conversation is such a gift. Make sure to follow Nancy @nancyguthrienashville
Check out the link tree in my bio for today’s brand-new episode!
.
.
#LiveLikeItsTrue #TrueStory #BiblePodcast #wordofGod #StudyGodsWord #BibleStudy #Storytelling #StorytellingPodcast #ChristianPodcast #ChristianWomen #TheGospel #creationstory #createdbygod #thefall #gardenofeden #adamandeve #manandwife #manandwoman #inhisimage #forbiddenfruit #thedevilisaliar #genesisstudy #thetruthwillsetyoufree #falsenarratives #knowthestory #sharethestory #livethestory #Genesis3 #controlgirl
4:30 am. Driving through the part of Medellin known for partying, drugs, and prostitution—I couldn’t help but notice the difference Jesus makes. 12 hours earlier, women from all over this city and beyond gathered blocks away, to open their Bibles, drink in the story, and learn to live like it’s true.
From the beginning, with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, God has been showing us that He alone knows what is good for us and bad for us. The question is: will we surrender control to Him?
#firsttimeincolombia #heisgodandiamnot #treeoftheknowledgeofgoodandevil #whoisincontrol
What a beautiful day with the women from @asuspiesmujeres in Colombia! We had over 500 women join us for a full day conference—including those who joined us from Armenia 🇦🇲, Canada 🇨🇦, Barranquilla, Bogota, Hawaii, Dominican Republic 🇩🇴, and many other places!
I had the pleasure of addressing this amazing group of women with my message: Una mujer controladora! (Don’t be a controlling women!)
I’m praying that God will use this precious time we had together to encourage and equip each of us to serve Him, to serve our families, and our communities!
God is in control, which means we don’t have to be.
Also, thanks so much to @editorialportavoz for making this possible.
As for me? My heart is overflowing! ❤️❤️❤️ I will never forget this life changing experience.
#colombia #medallin
Out for dinner in Bogota with my friends from @editorialportavoz ❤️🍽
Crepes & Waffles is amazing my new favorite! (Please expand to Michigan! 🙏🏼)
David, thank you hosting us—and for rescuing me before I went into the wrong bathroom! 😳
Marco, I’m glad this bill was pesos not dollars!! 😳😳🤣
What a delicious meal and great company!
#crepesywaffles #bogota #colombianfood
“It’s one thing because of sin and shame to hide yourself. It’s another when the Lord drives you from His presence. That is a horrifying thing.” - Kim Cash Tate @kimcashtate
Make sure to catch this week’s new episode of Live Like it’s True!
You’ll want to check out Kim’s ministry! She is a Bible teacher, and author of many books, including Cling.
Follow Kim @kimcashtate
Find the new episode in my bio!
#LiveLikeItsTrue #TrueStory #BiblePodcast #theBible #wordofGod #StudyGodsWord #BibleStudy #Storytelling #StorytellingPodcast #ChristianPodcast #ChristianWomen #TheGospel #creationstory #createdbygod #thefall #gardenofeden #adamandeve #manandwife #manandwoman #inhisimage #forbiddenfruit #thedevilisaliar #genesisstudy #thetruthwillsetyoufree #falsenarratives #knowthestory #sharethestory #livethestory #Genesis3
I had the honor to presenting at the @clccolombia book sellers convention in Bogota on Thursday! What a special joy it was to connect with these amazing people who serve the Church.
#christianpublishing #spanishpublishing #bogota #ilovecolombia🇨🇴
Hi from Bogota, Columbia! What an amazing evening in the home of my new friend, @consutojo ! What a beautiful time of sharing with these precious students of God’s Word!
#comparisongirl #controlgirl #colombia
Day 1 on our adventure in Colombia! We flew into Bogota late lady night (loved traveling with @petercerra and Jackie from @editorialportavoz . They took good care of me!)
This morning we did an interview on #controlgirl with the radio show at In His Presence church. They have 45,000 people attending this amazing church! AND they have a beautiful bookstore 📚, amazing Colombian coffee ☕️, and a car elevator! 😲
Thanks for being such a sweet hostess, Camila!
#adventureincolombia #bogota #christianbooks #christianpublishing
Have you ever felt like hiding from God, because of your guilt over sin? But what if—instead of you withdrawing from God, he drove you from his presence, because of your sin? That's so much worse, right? And that's exactly what happened to Adam and Eve, and to us. But as we look at this heartbreaking story of two people who had everything and lost it all, we're going to have some glimpses of hope for a way to return.
Check out today’s new episode in my bio!
I'm delighted to have Kim Cash Tate with me. Kim is a Bible teacher, and author of many books, including Cling. Follow Kim @kimcashtate
Check out the link tree in my bio for today’s brand-new episode!
.
.
#LiveLikeItsTrue #TrueStory #BiblePodcast #wordofGod #StudyGodsWord #BibleStudy #Storytelling #StorytellingPodcast #ChristianPodcast #ChristianWomen #TheGospel #creationstory #createdbygod #thefall #gardenofeden #adamandeve #manandwife #manandwoman #inhisimage #thedevilisaliar #genesisstudy #thetruthwillsetyoufree #falsenarratives #knowthestory #livethestory #Genesis3 #controlgirl
Oh how I’ve tried to white-knuckle my way through life—gripping onto control. But I've come to see control as such a burden. It weighs me down and tears at my relationships. I become the worst version of myself when I'm trying to manage all of the contingencies and lunge for one loose thread after another.
And amazingly, I find the peace, security, and joy I was after in the first place, when I surrender to the One who actually is in control.
——
Have we met? If not, hi! I’m Shannon. I’m a west MI author & speaker. My husband Ken and I just celebrated #25years and we have 3 young adult kids, and two shih tzus who (unlike the kids) have no plans of moving out. I’ve written two studies: Control Girl and Comparison Girl (both published with Kregel). I just launched a new podcast, Live Like It’s True! From the platform 🎤, the page 📒, and the podcast 🎙, it’s my joy to invite you to live like God’s Word is true! 📖
#ControlGirl #Surrender #WaveTheWhiteFlag #ControllingMom #ControllingWife #LayDownYourBurdens #NotMyWill #FreedomInSurrender #Marriage #MarriageGoals #MarriageCounseling #TrustinMarriage #ReleasingControl #WomenoftheBible #ChristianBook #BibleStudy #WomensMinistry #WomensBibleStudy #SmallGroup
Is your marriage filled with tension and conflict? Would it help to consider what God had in mind for marriage, in the first place?
In season 4 of the Live Like It's True podcast, we're looking at the True Story of the Beginning in Genesis 1-3. In this episode, Kelly Needham and I discuss the consequences spelled out in Genesis 3:16—which we all feel in our marriages. But even this judgment points us back to God's good design for husbands and for wives.
Please join us as we talk about our origin story, and how to live like it's true! Link in my bio. https://wp.me/p7IZQm-88e
#Biblepodcast #biblestudy #womensbiblestudy #genesis #originstory #marriage101 #godsdesign #genesis316 #controlgirl #thefall #marriageconflict #adamandeve #complementarianism #thetruestory #livelikeitstrue #hopeformarriages #marriagehelper #marriagematerial #marriagehelp #marriageproblems #marriagecoach #marriagetips #reviveourhearts #thegospelcoalition #christianpodcast #marriagepodcast
I love that the skies are visible to all of us—no matter where we are. They’re meant to remind us how much God loved us, and how far he’s distanced us from our sin. Don’t let the corruption around you—or in your own heart—let you forget the best parts of the story. Look up from wherever you are and remember who’s on the throne!
Psalm 103:11-12, 19.
#theheavensdeclare #heisonthethrone
