“… All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:5-6 (NIV)
One of my friends – a fellow writer – found herself working on a project with an editor who was fresh out of college and young enough to be her daughter. The inexperienced editor sent my friend a sharply worded note about an issue she thought my friend had neglected. However, there actually was no issue because the editor had misunderstood grammatical rules. After reading the note, my friend felt angry. She started drafting a response reminding the editor about her years of professional experience, her master’s degree, her many published books, etc. But she stopped writing that proud response after the Holy Spirit convicted her to be humble instead. So, my friend replied with a simple, friendly note that humbly linked to a stylebook showing the correct grammatical rules. Afterward, the editor treated her with more respect.
Humility is often misunderstood in our world, where pride is too often seen as a virtue. Being humble may seem like being weak when we’re surrounded by so many proud people promoting themselves over others. But humility comes from strength. Humility is recognizing who we are in light of who God is. Being humble is a decision to trust that we know God’s plans for us are far better than anything we could plan for ourselves. It’s not about thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less.
The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 5:5-6 that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. When we humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand, he will lift us up at the proper time. But what does it mean to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand? It means surrendering our own will, trusting in God’s guidance, and depending on God to help us in all situations. Humility is an invitation for God to work powerfully in our lives, shaping us according to his good purposes.
One of the greatest gifts of humility is its connection to learning. When we approach life with humility, we acknowledge that we don’t have all the answers. We become teachable, open to correction, and willing to grow. Pride blinds us, making us believe we already know enough. It keeps us from seeing our own faults and from receiving the wisdom of others. But humility allows us to embrace the lessons God wants us to learn. The more we learn, the more we can recognize glimpses of God at work. Humility opens our eyes to the wonder of God’s work in our lives every day. When we’re consumed by pride, we often miss the everyday miracles happening around us. Our own ambitions can distract us from the blessings God is pouring into our lives. But when we acknowledge our need for God and intentionally seek God’s presence, our perspective changes. We start to see God in everything – from the kindness of a stranger helping us to nature that inspires us with awe.
Jesus himself embodied humility. Since the King of Kings chose humility, how much more should we? As we follow Jesus’ example, we begin to experience the depth of his grace and the joy of living in the middle of God’s will.
Whenever we see areas in our lives where pride is keeping us from growth, we can ask God to help us embrace humility. We can choose to learn from God’s Word daily. We can seek God’s wisdom together with the believers God has placed in our lives.
God’s promise is clear: when we humble ourselves under his mighty hand, he will lift us up in due time. Let humility be the lens through which we view the world, and in doing so, we will see God work wonders in our lives.
Let’s pray:
Dear God, you are God, and I am not. Forgive me for the times I’ve allowed pride to take root in my heart, for the times when I’ve resisted correction, and for the times I’ve trusted in my own understanding instead of yours. Please teach me to walk in humility. Open my eyes to see your hand at work in my life. Make me teachable, willing to learn, and eager to grow in wisdom. Help me to trust your timing and to rest under your mighty hand, confident that you will lift me up in due time. Thank you for your wonderful love and the wonder of your constant presence in my life. I love you, God. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Suwaree Tangbovornpichet
Related Resource: Anxiety: Practical Steps for Healing in Christ
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Originally published Wednesday, 19 March 2025.
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