The Dangers of Pride

A weekly wisdom

I would like to share with you guys a painful lesson I learned about pride.

About two years ago, I put in my Facebook profile: "Author, Podcast Producer, Youth Group Leader). I remember talking with a childhood friend of mine about all the things I'd been doing. I had finally finished my first novel and had just sent in a book proposal to be published, I was the producer on a podcast that was growing rapidly, and I was a youth leader at my church. I remember sharing that with him and presenting it as a "look what God is doing!" but in my heart, it was pride. I was proud of all I thought I'd accomplished.

God's pretty good at recognizing our motivations though, and equally as good at humbling us.

Within the span of a couple months, my manuscript had been rejected by the publisher, I made a massive mistake on the podcast, the host of the podcast ended up stepping away a little while later for a different ministry which effectively ended the podcast, and due to some drama I won't get into I had to step away from youth leading.

In every area I'd proudly boasted about, God had taken away in one form or another. Suddenly I had to actually humble myself and rely on him. And he did provide. If we choose to follow God and pray he'll make us more Christlike, we better be ready for when he shows us what's going on in our hearts. In that moment, for me it was pride. And I learned the painful lesson of just how dangerous pride can be.

What has God taught you about when it comes to pride?