“…I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.”

Isaiah 57:15

I used to think that humility and courage were unrelated, possibly even somewhat opposites. As I learn to walk more closely with the Creator though, I’ve come to realize that it takes courage to be humble. It’s counter-cultural to admit that we don’t know something or that we need help. It takes courage to acknowledge that we can’t do something on our own, that our accomplishments do not belong to us alone.

God’s Word has a lot to say about humility:

• Psalms 69:32
  • “The humble will see their God at work and be glad”
• Proverbs 11:2
  • “Pride leads to disgrace but with humility comes wisdom”
• 1 Peter 5:6
  • “Humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand so He may lift you up in His own good time”

Sweet friends, can I confess something to you?

Humility is not in my human nature.

Being humble is an area of my life that God has to work on night and day. Holy Spirit sends me pointed reminders frequently to keep my pride in check, and my toes get pretty sore from being stepped on sometimes. Recently, it’s even been pointed out to me that insecurity, self-doubt, and self-consciousness – issues I thought might be showing I was learning to be humble or at least less proud – are actually just pride in a sneaky disguise.

When I look at the phrase “crushed spirit” in Isaiah 57:15, I am reminded that God has to pull apart the negative aspects of our natural being as part of our transformation in Him. He has to crush our hearts of stone back into workable clay. When we accept Christ as our Savior, God makes us a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and instills in us the Holy Spirit to shape us and mold us to be more like Christ.

Dear heart, I am still undergoing construction in the area of being humble, but I’ve come far enough to have the courage to recognize that I have never accomplished anything solely on my own. I have no great claim to anything because everything I have has come from the blessings of the Lord.

The world tells us to be proud, take credit, proclaim our achievements, wear them like a crown, BUT God, God reminds us that one day the first shall be last and the last shall be first (Mark 9:35, Matthew 19:30), that pride comes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18).

In Isaiah 57:15, God tells us that He revives the courage of those with repentant hearts, those who recognize His Lordship and turn to follow Him.

Beloved, when we fully grasp that our help comes from the Lord, when we are intimately aware that He is God, Lord of All, and we most definitely are not, when we humble ourselves before Him and surrender to His great plan, this Siblings, is when we find the courage to face each day.

It takes great courage to see ourselves as we truly are, small in the grand scheme of things and brief in the infinite span of time, BUT God:

• God makes the impossible possible (Matthew 19:26),
• supplies all our needs (Philippians 4:19),
• adopts us as joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:15-17),
• grants us eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven with Him (John 3:16).

As we go forth each day Lord, let it be not our pride, but Your glory that shines for all to see! Let nothing be credited to us that we do not turn over to You in praise and wonder and thanksgiving!