Shame and pride are often seen as opposites, but as Proverbs 11:2 states, pride causes shame. Shame can weigh on you and make you feel stuck in place. Shame can morph your mindset and have you believing things that aren’t true.
When I would feel guilt and shame for not reading the Word every day as I was taught to do, I would always feel like everyone knew that I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to do. This feeling of shame got so bad that I ended up talking to my mother about it. She told me not to be concerned with what other people are thinking because most likely they were not thinking about me and were focused on their own relationships with the Lord. This made me realize the morphed, self-centered view I had let slip in. So, how do you combat a self-centered, prideful, shame-filled mindset? According to Proverbs 11:2, with humility.
The word humility gets a bad rap because it is often associated with a low view of yourself. That is actually far from the truth. The best definition I found is that humility is the acceptance of your own flaws and shortcomings. Humility is simply realizing that I may not be living up to the standard that God has for me, but I am not alone, and with God’s help all things are possible. The best part of this is that once we give up trying to do things on our own and humble ourselves before the Lord, he rewards us. We are first rewarded by having the weight of shame lifted off of our backs and being set free from the bondage of guilt. Then, we are rewarded with Godly wisdom.
Humility is simply realizing that I may not be living up to the standard that God has for me, but I am not alone, and with God’s help all things are possible.
When we turn things over to the Lord, we are no longer weighed down but are equipped to walk in peace and freedom.
Stay Strong and Carry On,
Carrington
