06/08/2019
Do you tremble when faced with hardship? Do overwhelming odds cause you to run, or look for a place to hide? Do you surrender to sin, or to the unrighteous because you don’t see any way to be victorious? Well, if your cause is good and within His will, and if you believe that God can never be defeated, then you should not fear, or lose heart. God gives us certain victory.
“for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them. You are my King, O God; ordain salvation for Jacob! Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down those who rise up against us. For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me. But you have saved us from our foes and have put to shame those who hate us.”
Psalms 44:3-7 ESV
So often we fail to call upon God in those times when we need of Him most. We seem to be content with fighting our own battles, and are either too proud, or perhaps of too little faith, to plead for His protection, strength, or salvation. We would rather go down in defeat than humble ourselves before Him.
Sometimes it is our pride that gets in the way. It can present itself as excessive self-confidence, or even as arrogance as we refuse to accept aid at any cost. The Bible has much to say about pride, and arrogance, but nowhere is it dealt with so directly as in Proverbs:
“The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.”
Proverbs 8:13 ESV
We receive warnings regarding the harm Pride and arrogance can cause us ...
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.”
Proverbs 16:18-19 ESV
We read of the benefits of overcoming our pride by being humble:
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.”
Proverbs 11:2 ESV
And finally Proverbs tells us of how God views our prideful arrogance...
“Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.”
Proverbs 16:5 ESV
So we should never let our pride get in the way as we come before the Lord, and we should always seek His help, and counsel, in every situation. By not calling upon the Lord we are not only missing out on His help, but risking His punishment.
There were times as my kids were growing up when they faced certain problems in their lives and didn’t come to their mother or me for help until the situation had become dire. A good example would be when one of them was struggling with schoolwork. Sometimes they would wait until they were in imminent danger of failing an assignment before they would come to us in desperation. When this happened my first reaction was anger... “why didn’t you say something sooner?” to which they would often reply... “I thought I could do it alone.” I was inclined to let them fail just to teach them a lesson. Then, as the tears flowed, or the disappointment became obvious, I would go about helping them, and resolving the situation.
Pride and arrogance, they are enemies of our faith. However, their counterparts, humility and trust, can lift us high, and allow us to experience victory in God through Jesus Christ.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV
A lack of faith is the second major reason we don’t come to Jesus, or God for assistance in times of trouble. We don’t trust in their ability to solve the situation, and resolve ourselves to lean on our own abilities as a result. Proverbs 3 has much to say about trusting in God, and bears reading in its entirety, but here is a passage that will always serve you well:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.”
Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV
Trusting in God’s ability to save us, help us, and provide for us in times of hardship requires faith. To know that Jesus intercedes for us requires faith, and to lean into their arms in the face of great danger requires much faith. Yet when we find that faith, even a smidgeon of it, we find victory, and salvation.
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
Psalms 34:17-19 ESV
However, when we lose faith in God’s ability to help us, and we chose to go it alone, then we are foregoing much more than victory, we are losing the peace that only God can provide...
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
Faith... trust... humility... confidence in God... these are our weapons against the trials and enemies we face in life. So the question becomes this: are we prepared to seek God’s help by praying in the name of Jesus Christ for it? Do we have the humility to ask, and the faith to trust?
Prayer:
Father thank you for always hearing my cry as I face the trials in my life. Thank you for your might, and the promise that you will sustain me in my darkest hour. Thank you for your Son Jesus who teaches me to come before you in humility, and in all things. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that speaks for me when I am so distraught that I have no words. Help me Merciful Father in every decision, and against every foe. Teach me Gracious Lord to trust in you with an unwavering faith. Holy, Holy, Holy are you my God and my strong tower. Great are you in your provision and protection. Praised be your name because it is truth, and promise. In your grace we find your glory, and it was, and is, and is forevermore. Glorious are you my preserver, my provider, and my protector.
Now A Step Further:
Some additional Scriptures to study regarding pride and arrogance in Proverbs and Psalms:
Proverbs 8:13; 11:22; 13:10; 14:3; 15:25; 16:5,18-19; 18:12; 21:4,24; 35:27; 26:12, 27:2; 28:25; 29:23;
Psalms 10:2-4; 31:23; 56:2; 59:12; 73:6; 101:5; 131:1; 138:6;
Rich Forbes