The Promise Hidden in Humility
Pride puffs up and collapses, but humility grounds us securely in the life of Jesus.
Devotional Credit: Day by Day by Grace by Bob Hoekstra
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Bob Hoekstra brings us to one of the Lord’s “unpopular” promises, one that cuts against the grain of both the world and often even the church world. Jesus declared, “Whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” To a culture that prizes self-assertion, self-promotion, and confidence in one’s own strength, this promise sounds upside-down. Yet, it is a truth repeated throughout Scripture, woven into the fabric of God’s kingdom.
Hoekstra shows us that the world’s way has always been the path of pride. Babylon serves as an example, having risen to power and dominance yet collapsing under the weight of arrogance. Their declaration, “I am, and there is no one else besides me,” echoed the lie of self-sufficiency that God promised to humble. No kingdom, no matter how mighty, could prevent the fulfillment of God’s word. Pride always leads to downfall.
But the other side of this promise is where God’s heart is revealed. Those who walk in humility, who acknowledge their need, who admit their insufficiency, are the ones who find themselves lifted by God’s hand. The world scoffs at humility, calling it weakness, but God delights in the broken and contrite heart. David knew this truth when he declared that such a heart is never despised by God.
Jesus affirmed it plainly in His own teaching: the poor in spirit inherit the kingdom, and the meek will inherit the earth. In God’s economy, humility is the way to blessing. This is not about self-hatred or self-neglect, but about resting in dependence upon the indwelling Christ. To exalt self is to block the flow of His life. To humble self is to open the way for Jesus to be exalted in us.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
My beloved, remember that pride is a thief. It robs you of fellowship with Me, for it turns your eyes inward to self instead of upward to your Savior. The one who exalts himself walks toward a fall, but the one who bows in humility finds My lifting hand.
I resist the proud, but I give grace to the humble. When you acknowledge your need, My grace flows freely. Do not think that humility is weakness. It is the posture of strength, for it rests not on human will but on My life within you. The poor in spirit are rich in My kingdom, and the meek are heirs of My promises.
Do not fear being overlooked when you humble yourself. I see every contrite heart, and I delight to exalt in due time. Babylon fell in arrogance, but My Son, who humbled Himself even to death on a cross, has been exalted above every name. As you walk in Him, your path will share in His victory.
Scripture References: Matthew 23:12, Isaiah 47:6-11, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:6, Psalm 51:17, Matthew 5:3-5, Philippians 2:5-11, Proverbs 16:18, Romans 6:4, Galatians 2:20.
Real-Life Analogy
Think of a balloon filled with air. The more it is inflated, the more fragile it becomes, ready to burst at the slightest pressure. But a stone resting low to the ground cannot be burst, it remains solid and secure. Pride puffs us up, making us vulnerable to collapse, while humility keeps us grounded in stability.
Today, when pride rises in me, whether through the need to be noticed or the urge to assert my own way, I can pause and yield, saying, “Lord, I trust You to live Your life through me in this moment.” In that act of trust, pride is deflated, and humility makes space for His life to be seen.
Prayer of Confidence
Lord, I thank You that in Jesus I am free from the emptiness of pride. You have given me the joy of resting in humility, knowing that You exalt those who yield to You. I rejoice that I do not have to strive for recognition or inflate myself to be secure. In union with Christ, I am lifted by Your hand and kept in Your care. I live today confident that humility is not loss but gain, for it opens the way for Your life to shine through me.