“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Can you really be confident and have humility at the same time?

I have a friend when we would talk about humility and he would always say, but Moses was the most humble man ever lived and he wrote that…since he’s alluded to writing the book of Numbers. (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth. Numbers‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭)

Was Moses prideful by saying that? Or was he sincerely humble?

I was taught to be humble, but in this world humility is often perceived as a weakness. A doormat. A limp noodle. No backbone. I’ve even been asked by people if I have low self-esteem (which I do not), because they perceive my humility as a possible negative.

But would we say Jesus was a doormat, a limp noodle or weak. No. He had a strong sense of humility.

I heard Tara Leigh Cobble (The Bible Recap) say this term, confident humility and I liked it.

We can be humble in ourselves but still confident in knowing God can do it. It’s like the verse, I must become less and He must become greater (John 3:30). It’s realizing I am only who I am, where I am, what I am because of Him. It’s realizing my dependence in on the One who sees the full picture and not just the Instagram photo.

I love the story of David. He was a small, young shepherd who people may have looked down on, but He had the confidence through God to be used to take down a giant.

What is your giant in your life that you need to believe is going to fall? Not because of your strength, but because of God’s strength.

You can push and push that mountain, but it will only fall into the sea when you realize it’s not you that’s going to make it fall, but God.

But in this world we are taught to be number 1, be the leader, take charge, forge your destiny, take the road untraveled…it’s an upside down kind of thinking to take a step back and allow God to be number 1.

But when we prioritize God ahead of ourselves you may start to see the rest of your life shifting into place. Now the shifting doesn’t mean it’s going to be painless or easy, because we are called to pick up our cross, but the shifting may bring peace and strength you could never find on your own accord.

Christ calls us to come to Him in all circumstances. Good and bad. Weak and strong. Broken and whole.

He bids us to come to Him at all times so we will always know He is where our true strength comes from. He is our safe house, our home, our center.

I’ve been struggling with the idea of pride and humility lately and where I see my future. Because to be successful in the world’s eye it takes self promotion. But God has been speaking to me so much lately to not fear.

Don’t worry about four steps ahead, just follow Me. Have I ever led you stray before?

Don’t worry about numbers, just remember what I said. I can multiple two fish into basket fulls.

Don’t worry about people, just remember what I’ve done. I can cause kings and Pharaohs to obey My commands.

Don’t worry about the trials, just remember how I’ve overcome. I’ve split seas and sealed lions mouths.

Don’t worry about yourself, just remember how much I love you. I created you for such a time as this.

So, if you’re going through something hard, God created you with all you need to overcome it. Because He lovingly and wonderfully created you with the need to rely on Him and He can overcome anything.

Maybe it’s time to lay down your pride and raise the white flag and surrender to self. Then maybe you will see the King of Kings stoop down and say, “Oh my child, my sweet, sweet child. Abba is here. Just be still and rest. I’ll take care of this.”

May we all see our worth is so much greater in His eyes than in our own reflection of who we think we are.

The interesting thing about God. That when we bow down to Him, He doesn’t leave us there. He doesn’t keep us down like a tyrant or ruthless king. No, He lift us up. Calls us co-heirs.

You may think you weren’t born into nobility. But that’s the furthest from the truth. You are a child of the King. And a King never lets their child be disgraced.

A King always crowns their child.

May you wear your crown not with earthly pride, but the pride of being loved and known by the God who wants the best for you.

Peace