When You Feel Jealous of Other People’s Joy

☕ Coffee on the Rabbit Trail | Off Topic, On Purpose Blog Series

Post 21: “When You Feel Jealous of Other People’s Joy”

It’s not something we like to admit.
But sometimes… it hurts to see someone else get the very thing you’ve been waiting for.

The engagement.
The baby.
The new house.
The promotion.
The healing.
The answered prayer.

And while you smile, clap, and congratulate — inside, there’s a sting.
A whisper: “Why not me? When will it be my turn?”

If that’s you, I want you to know something:

Feeling jealous doesn’t make you bad. It makes you human.

Your heart can be happy for someone else and still ache for yourself.
Both can exist.
Both are real.

Jealousy isn’t the final word about who you are.
It’s just a signal — a sign that there’s something deeply important to you, something you long for, something that matters.

And that longing? It’s not wrong.

It means you’re alive.
It means you care.
It means you’re reaching for something beautiful, even if you don’t have it yet.

Here’s the truth:
Someone else’s blessing doesn’t cancel yours.
Someone else’s joy doesn’t erase the possibility of your own.
There’s still space for you. There’s still a future with your name on it.

So if jealousy shows up, don’t shove it down in shame.
Acknowledge it.
Breathe through it.
Let it remind you of what your soul is hungry for.

And then remember this:
Your story isn’t over.
Your season isn’t wasted.
Your time isn’t gone.

There is still joy ahead for you — joy that won’t look exactly like anyone else’s, but joy that will be yours.

And when it comes? It’ll make sense.
It’ll be right on time.
It’ll be worth the wait.

Until then… give yourself grace.
You’re not bad. You’re not broken.
You’re just human. 💛