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Life can be so challenging sometimes — we each understand this all too well. It’s not only the big things that seem out of our control, but it's also the little things we face each day. We forget our keys. A friend cancels on us. Our bank card gets declined. We wake up anxious. Negative thoughts fill our mind. It doesn’t take much to leave us feeling hopeless, confused, exhausted or stressed. We wonder what God has to say about what we’re experiencing, but sometimes just getting through the next few hours is hard enough. That’s why Proverbs 31 Ministries created the Encouragement For Today Podcast — a collection of 50 devotions to help you start your day with a biblical perspective you can carry with you no matter what lies ahead.
I like to be right. Who doesn’t?
But I’d also like to think I’m able to admit when I’m wrong. It’s pretty simple to admit the little mistakes, apologize and ask forgiveness. Maybe I accidentally tossed my husband’s hang-up shirt in the dryer. Or maybe I missed a clear-cut deadline at work. I can admit being wrong then.
But what about the times when I’m really, really right?
The beyond the shadow of a doubt kind of right. The “How in the world can you not see my point?” kind of right. The kind of right where you want to go and rally everyone you know and get them to confirm just how right you are, so your righteousness is validated. What about those times?
When I’m absolutely, positively sure I’m right, it’s my job to dig in my heels and stand my ground. Right?
There’s a particular situation I’ve been walking through (and praying about daily) for quite some time. It’s one of those situations where I just know I’m right. I was praying about this situation as usual one morning, pouring out my heart. Asking for clarity. Asking for resolution. But then I did something I don’t always do. Taking my pastor’s suggestion after pouring out my heart in prayer, I sat silently and listened for that still small voice.
The verse that resonated in my head in those quiet moments was not the verse I had expected.
It was the words of James 4:10, which says: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” This was not necessarily the advice I had prepared myself to hear. But it made sense.
So much time had been spent digging in my heels and rallying my troops that I’d been anything but humble. I let the words sink in, reading them in context. It comforted me to understand James writes from a place of everyday life with Jesus, to people dealing with everyday conflicts and interpersonal struggles. I had been prideful. And puffed-up pride has no place as an ingredient in a recipe for resolution.
I’m still dealing with this particular situation, and I’m still wrapping my mind around the application of this verse in the context of my struggle, but in humbling myself before God, I know He will work out all things for good in due time (Romans 8:28).
Dear heavenly Father, help me to kneel before You and lay my struggles at Your feet. Give me the clarity and humility to see that interpersonal situations are not one-sided. Give me compassion to understand the viewpoints of others, and give me the capacity and energy to work through conflict in a way that is pleasing to You. In Jesus’ Name Amen.