October 16th, 2023

Before I get into what I have learned about humility, my goal isn’t for my audience to feel like I am preaching off a mountaintop, this is one of the things that I wrote for myself to look back on to remind myself as humility is something I am currently practicing.

Humility

Humility is recognizing that you are no better than your neighbor. It is setting aside your pride and letting go of your ego. Before I dive deeper, I want to acknowledge that I, too, have struggled with pride in the past and still do to this day. I have not always demonstrated humility in my life, but learning and understanding its true meaning has been one of the most humbling and transformative experiences thanks to God.

Humility allows us to see the world and the people around us with a new perspective. It teaches us to be more accepting of others, to serve without expecting anything in return, and to love unconditionally. Most importantly, humility is a gift from God, one that redefines how we approach life.

Humility Brings Acceptance and Compassion

When you develop true humility, you begin to see other people’s needs as equal to your own. You no longer place yourself above them, and instead, you feel called to serve and respond to them with kindness. It is easy to go through life thinking that our struggles and needs are the most pressing. We often dismiss the problems of others simply because they do not directly affect us. I have been guilty of this many times where I have caught myself focusing only on myself and ensuring that my needs were met first.

However, this is not who God calls us to be. He calls us to serve, love, and uplift one another. In King’s Cross, Timothy Keller writes, “At some level, your normal assumptions, your pride, and your egotistical way of thinking are blinding you to the truth.” Life often consumes us with our own responsibilities and ambitions, making us blind to what we should be doing out of love and generosity.

Humility as a Surrender to God’s Plan

Understanding humility as a gift from God means surrendering control over our lives to Him. It means letting go of the thought: Why isn’t my life going the way I planned? The truth is, it is not up to us, it is up to God and His divine plan.

As someone who has always wanted to be in control, this realization has been both difficult and freeing. I now see that trying to control every aspect of my life has only led to frustration and disappointment. But when I let go of my ego and trust in God’s will, I feel an overwhelming sense of peace. “Who gave away everything to come after you, to rescue you, to love you.” (Keller, p. 137).

Real humility means learning to relax and trust that God is the author of our lives. This is something I need to constantly work on even though I have faith that embracing humility will bring the peace I’ve been seeking.

Humility’s Impact on the World Around You

Another gift of humility is the positive influence it has on those around you. When you consistently serve and uplift others, you naturally gain influence – not through power, but through kindness and example. The more you serve, the more you inspire others to do the same.

Small acts of kindness can go a long way. A simple gesture could change someone’s entire day or even their life. We have countless opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and that is a blessing we should never take for granted.

Embracing the Gift of Humility

Humility is a gift when we truly understand the meaning of the cross. It reminds us that God is in control, not us. We must move away from the self-centered belief that we alone know how our lives should unfold. Instead, we should trust in God’s greater plan.

If you find yourself clinging to pride and resisting surrender, perhaps it’s time to take a step back and seek ways to humble yourself. I say this to only remind myself. I have been trying to remind myself more and more to begin with small acts of kindness. Serve without expectation. Shift your focus outward instead of inward. As you do, you will discover that humility is not just a virtue, it is a pathway to peace, fulfillment, and a deeper connection with God.