“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

​‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. “

1 Peter 5:5b-7 NIV

So interesting that Peter instructs us to humble ourselves toward one another and to God, warns us about pride, and then right after….. tells us to cast all of our anxieties on Him.

When I look at my own life, and ponder about what causes me anxiety, so much of it is related to pride.  I spend lots of energy worrying about work.  I worry about how my boss ranks me against my peers.  I worry about every conversation that I have with my customers.  But it goes far beyond work…I worry about what the other volleyball moms think about my lack of volunteerism. And what do the neighbors think about my minimal participation in “neighborhood activities”?  Do my kids’ teachers think I’m involved enough? Are people at church happy with me?  The list just goes on and on. And it’s all about me and my silly pride!

Yet Jesus through Peter here, is calling us to humble ourselves and trust that God will “lift us up in due time.”  There are a couple of really, REALLY tough things that I’m dealing with in my personal life right now.  All requiring an extra portion of humility.  I realize how difficult it is for me to approach a situation with humility….especially when I’m afraid.  I want to protect myself. Make sure that nobody takes advantage or gets the best of me.  And if they do, I at least want them to know I’m aware of it. And I am quietly holding it against them. Not proud of that.

Last Sunday, Pastor issued a powerful call for us to recognize the brokenness in ourselves, and our own need of forgiveness….and then use that same lens to view the people in our lives.  Even when they hurt us.  Even when it’s scary.  When I look at my overwhelming situations…it seems really tough to respond with grace and humility, yet I know that there is great peace (the only peace) in that.  And that when I do respond with grace and humility, I honor my Father in heaven.  And I can trust in His promises that “he will lift me up in due time.”

Erin