Skip to content
Pace with Grace
Open menu
Bible VersesDevotionalsGuidesEmailAboutGet email updates
(jealousy)4 min read

Envy in the Shadows

By the Pace with Grace editorial team

Key Verse · Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)

“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”

Jealousy can creep in quietly, often disguised as admiration or inspiration. But when it takes root, it can destroy relationships and our own sense of self-worth.

The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about envy, and it's not pretty. Envy is described as something that 'rots the bones,' implying a deep and painful decay.

“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”

Proverbs 14:30

So how do we deal with jealousy when it arises? First, we have to acknowledge it. We have to be honest with ourselves about when we're feeling envious, and what's driving those feelings.

Then, we have to take it to God. We have to ask Him to help us see the people and situations that trigger our envy, and to give us the strength to choose a different path.

God, I confess that I've been struggling with jealousy. It's ugly and painful, and I don't want it to control me. Help me to see the root of my envy, and to choose a different path. Give me a heart at peace, and help me to cultivate life-giving relationships. Amen.

Verses for the moment

When this hits in real life.

Get app updates (and more).

Join for Pace with Grace app updates, new verse pages, and occasional notes. No spam.

More

More devotionals.

(jealousy)4 min

Envy in the Shadows of Our Hearts

A devotional on jealousy, exploring how Scripture addresses envy and its effects on our relationships and self-worth, with a focus on honesty and healing.

All devotionals