What is humility?

This world teaches us to look cool, crave the spotlight, prove ourselves, get ahead, and outshine others—but the Bible teaches us quite the opposite. It calls us to humility. It points us to Jesus—the One who humbled Himself even to the point of death.

Humility is kneeling before the Lord rather than standing tall before the world.

Humility is lifting others higher than we lift ourselves.

Humility is listening more than we speak and putting the needs of others first.

Humility is seeing others through God’s eyes, not through the lens of judgment and comparison.

Humility is laying down our pride and taking up the heart of a servant.

Humility is seeking God’s approval above the approval of the world.

Humility is stepping aside so that God’s presence is seen far more clearly than our own.

Humility is not weakness—it is the strength of God’s power working in us and through us. It is the character of Jesus Christ being formed in us.

“And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭12‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬)

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬)

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” ‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬)

I was sitting in my car, waiting for my daughter to get out of a class, feeling as if I’m just not entirely sure about anything anymore. Sometimes everything seems so fragile, unsteady, and uncertain. It’s like I don’t quite know where I’m going or what I’m doing. It can leave me so uneasy.

But then I pause and think about God. The one thing I know I will always be completely sure about is Jesus Christ. He is the solid rock that never moves—the rock upon which I must stand. When everything else is shaky, His strength is so stable.

People, possessions, and circumstances continuously shift and change, but Jesus will always remain exactly the same—yesterday, today, and forever. That is just the most incredible comfort and unwavering reassurance that keeps me going in this crazy and unpredictable world. He is my constant, now and for all eternity.

“I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.” Psalms‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

Sometimes my writing inspiration comes from just one single word. It’s as if God plants something so simple in my mind and says, “Here—work with that. Write about that.”

Today, that word is cling.

It comes from my constant hunger for, and complete reliance on, Jesus. As I go through my days and my life, I cling to every word, every hope, every promise, and every comfort He provides. It reminds me of a child clinging to their parents for safety—I cling to Jesus in the same way. 

This world gives me plenty of reasons to let go, but Jesus gives me every reason to hang on.

I found Psalm 63:8 (NLT), and it struck me hard: “I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.”

I cling because I deeply love Him.

I cling because I desperately need Him.

I cling because I wholeheartedly trust Him.

I cling because He is the only constant in a world that never is.

I cling because I know His grasp is even stronger than mine.

Lately, I’ve really been trying to view my life as a race. It helps me stay focused, knowing Who and what I’m running for. It also helps me remember that this life is temporary and I’m only passing through. 

1 Corinthians 9:24 tells us to always run as if we are striving for first place—to run with the discipline and determination to win.

Hebrews 12:1 says that we are to run with endurance. Think of it more like a marathon than a sprint. A sprint is quick and doesn’t require much persistence, but a marathon demands discipline and perseverance all the way until the end.

Hebrews 12:2 goes on to encourage us to keep our eyes on Jesus every step of the way. What better motivation could there be?

In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul declares in his final letter: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” What a perfect farewell.

These scriptures really help to build the backbone of my faith. They remind me to run hard and keep moving, even when I hit bumps and roadblocks along the way. I can never stop—I will never stop. As long as I see Jesus, I will run faithfully until my last breath.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭4‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬)

When trying to envision walking through a valley, here’s what comes to mind:

It’s a very low place, with rugged terrain and barren ground. Color is nearly absent, leaving only dull, lifeless tones in every direction. The air feels heavy and dreary, starved of light. The path is narrow and enclosed, twisting and curving through the shadows. Everything appears parched and desperate, begging for even the slightest touch of relief.

When unfolding the metaphorical layers of this valley, here’s what comes to mind:

It reflects feeling very sad, empty, and lonely, weighed down by heavy burdens. You’re navigating rocky and dark circumstances, feeling trapped and limited in your options. Your journey feels uncertain, and the path ahead seems endless. Yet even in this very scary place, the path still leads forward. Each step brings you closer to a new horizon ahead, and God is always walking with you, right beside you, protecting, comforting, and guiding you toward goodness and renewal.

“For we are powerless against this great multitude which is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” 2 Chronicles‬ ‭20‬:‭12‬ ‭(AMP)

I once prayed with a woman who kept crying out the words, “I just don’t know what to do” over and over again. It was a powerful moment for us both. The Lord gave me 2 Chronicles 20:12 to share with her. Our time together really stuck with me, as it made me realize how badly I need this verse as well—I think we all do. I feel as if I frequently just don’t know what to do in this crazy life, and this verse directly acknowledges both our weakness and our reliance on God during those times.

In its original context, Jehoshaphat was facing an army and openly admitting his lack of power and strategy to deal with it. In the same way, we often feel unequipped to fight our own battles—I know I do. Jehoshaphat then openly declared his trust in the Lord to help him get through it. When facing a battle of any magnitude, we are to look to the Lord and His immeasurable power. He never asks us to fight in our own strength, but rather He wants us to fix our eyes on Him and His strength. When you don’t know what to do, set your gaze on the One who does. He will always see you through.

I was randomly thinking about how algorithms work on social media. You just keep getting more of what you give your attention to, right? If you start clicking on specific things, more of the same things will continue to show up.

It made me think of our relationship with God—it only deepens as we give more attention to it. The more we invest in Him, the more of Him we begin to see. The more we read and study His Word, the more He speaks to us. The more we pray, the more we recognize His answers. The more we listen and obey, the more fruit we see being produced in our lives.

What are you feeding your soul with? Is it what you want to continuously see showing up in your life?

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” ‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬)

“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭58‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

This is one I feel I need to read and meditate on often lately. It’s far too easy to lose sight of what truly matters, or I should say WHO truly matters, when we’re working and fighting our way through this life. We are called to be strong and immovable in serving the Lord, standing firm in our faith and refusing to allow challenges or temptations to cause us to waver or give up. Our strength, energy, and joy should be rooted in the eternal value of our work, not in what we immediately see before us. Our labor should never be in vain, but always for Him. Nothing done in the name of the Lord, whether great or small, is ever wasted.

Placing too much emphasis on self-gain or social recognition is a spiritually destructive habit. It leads to pride, comparison, and discontentment. Our worth and success must never be measured by human approval or social status, but by God‘s approval and who He says we are. That is where the real reward lies—our eternal reward in Christ.

Choose the narrow gate.

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

The narrow gate means denying yourself and fully surrendering to God. The narrow gate means sacrificing your old ways and bad habits. The narrow gate means facing opposition, ridicule, and separation from this world. The narrow gate means continuously being misunderstood, even by your own friends and family. The narrow gate means dealing with copious amounts of spiritual warfare. The narrow gate means having your faith tested day after day. The narrow gate is challenging and exhausting.

But…

The narrow gate leads to spiritual transformation. The narrow gate leads to true freedom, breaking the power of sin. The narrow gate leads to a life that has real purpose and meaning. The narrow gate leads to genuine peace and joy that’s rooted in Christ. The narrow gate leads to a love that’s so good and so pure it’ll blow your mind. The narrow gate leads to undying strength in all circumstances. The narrow gate leads to great trust and hope in the promises of God. The narrow gate leads to salvation and the amazing gift of eternal life in heaven.

Choose the narrow gate.

Drowning.

Life can sure feel that way at times.

Like you’re barely keeping your head above the water.

Like you’re losing the strength to swim—to fight.

Like the water is starting to make its way into your lungs and you’re gasping for air.

Like you’re about to give up and you can only hope to float and not sink.

The Bible often uses the imagery of deep water to symbolize these extremely difficult situations.

Psalm 69 is a very profound example. Verses 1-3 (NLT) say: “Save me, O God, for the floodwaters are up to my neck. Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire; I can’t find a foothold. I am in deep water, and the floods overwhelm me. I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me.”

Wow. This really conveys sheer helplessness and desperation to be rescued. Yet as the Psalm goes on, it moves from utter despair to complete confidence in the Lord—from distress to deliverance. I find it so beautifully powerful and comforting to read—how the Bible doesn’t tell us that these feelings are bad or wrong, but instead demonstrates that they are a clear signal to seek the Lord.

Notice how David begins that passage by crying out for God to save him, and ends it by saying that he’s waiting for God to help him. That right there shows how his faith won’t let him give up, even with every painful word that was uttered in between. No matter how deep you are in the water, you’re never too deep for God to reach in and pull you out.

“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬

Jeremiah 2:13 speaks to forsaking God—the fountain of living waters, and replacing Him with carnal solutions—broken cisterns. It illustrates people turning from God to seek fulfillment elsewhere. It’s like rejecting a fresh spring of water for a broken bucket of water when you’re thirsty. Just like a flowing natural spring is an endless source of refreshment for our bodies, God is an endless source of refreshment for our souls. Turning to worldly things for contentment is like turning to a broken cistern that can’t hold very much for very long—it will surely leave you unsatisfied and thirsting for more. Only God can truly meet our needs and sustain us.

I woke up this morning with such a strong urge to write about weakness. I really wanted to share a word of encouragement for anyone who might be feeling weak—mainly because I was wrestling with it myself all weekend. I’ll never be ashamed to admit how weak I feel at times. To me, it only just serves as an ongoing testimony to the goodness of God, because He strengthens me every single time.

So, I opened up the Bible app on my phone, and there it was—the “Verse of the Day” just fit so perfectly. It says: “Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭84‬:‭5‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬

The first half of this verse clearly tells us that we are blessed when we put our trust in the Lord, but the second half takes a little more reflection. In its original context, it speaks of the Israelites making pilgrimages to Jerusalem to worship. In a spiritual context, it points to having a heart that longs after the Lord. Our own journey—our pilgrimage—should always be directed toward Him, toward heaven. Our hearts should always be set on the Lord, not the things of this world. It’s only there that we will find true strength in times of weakness.

I was studying at the library while I was waiting for my daughters to get out of a class. I would love to share some of my notes because they’re just so good. Psychoanalysis tells us to look inward and backward—to dig in and trace back. But God tells us to look forward and upward—letting the past go and keeping our eyes fixed on Him. In Philippians 3, we are told to press on, forget the past, and reach forward. And in Colossians 3, we are told to set our minds on things above. We should be Christ-seeking rather than psychoanalyzing. We need to look ahead and look to God. Remember—forward & upward, not inward & backward.

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ (NKJV)

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬

It’s funny how I’ll sit down in the morning with a cup of coffee, excited and ready to write, and then suddenly I’m faced with the dreaded writer’s block. It’s like my mind either goes completely blank or is too cluttered for me to focus—usually the latter. Then I’ll do something as small as just stepping outside, and instantly the world around me will spark so many new thoughts and ideas. Even something as simple as seeing a flower or a pretty cloud in the sky will do it for me. It reminds me of how important it is to see beauty in the mundane—and it reminds me that God is so good, even when my circumstances are not. This all brought me to a passage in Ecclesiastes.

It reads like this: “What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬-‭12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

Everything can be seen as beautiful when viewed through the lens of God. This statement is not so much talking about the physical beauty of things, but rather it serves as a metaphor for God‘s perfect timing and arrangement of things. It encompasses the idea that everything has a place and a purpose in God‘s design, which is just such a beautiful thing.

When it feels like the world is against you, remember that God is still on your side. That is where your strength should come from.

Romans 8:31 (NKJV) says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” And Hebrews 13:6 (NLT) tells us that we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

The answers to these two questions are simple—nobody and nothing. This is not to say that people aren’t going to oppose you and hurt you, but rather that God’s sovereignty will surely overrule it all. Keep your eyes on Him and what He desires for you, rather than on the demands of this world.

“Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.” Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

I’m in the book of Romans a lot. Not only because it’s a personal favorite of mine, but also because there is a heavy emphasis on it when studying biblical counseling.

The first three words of Romans 6:16 are basically saying, “Hello, wake up!” Or “Isn’t it obvious?” This should get your attention right away. The bottom line of what follows afterwards is that everyone serves something—you’re either serving sin or you’re serving God. It’s one or the other. You can’t serve two masters.

Serving sin means serving any destructive behaviors that separate you from God. Sin is being personified as a master here, and serving this master will only lead to spiritual death. Whereas, serving the Lord will lead to spiritual life.

This verse, in essence, is a spiritual reality check for us. You have to ask yourself these questions: “Who is really in charge of my life?” “Is it the tug of sin or the voice of God?” One leads to nothing, and the other leads to everything.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭4 (NLT)‬‬

Romans 5:3-4 is yet another passage in the Bible that tells us to rejoice in our troubles. It states specific reasons why we should be rejoicing, such as being given the opportunity to strengthen our endurance, our character, and our hope of salvation. Paul is encouraging us to take on a different perspective when we struggle—to understand that our problems always serve a purpose. He isn’t saying that our problems themselves will bring us joy, but rather that the growth experienced during them will bring us joy. They teach us to persevere, they deepen our faith, and they build our confidence in God’s great promises. When you start to shift your viewpoint and really apply these verses to what you’re going through, it’s life-changing.

I inadvertently came across this verse recently, but boy did I need to read it and share it with some others. Genesis 50:20 (NLT) – “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”

I sure can apply this to my counseling work in numerous ways—and I know that we can all easily apply it to our lives in numerous ways as well.

It’s like the lyrics from the song “See a Victory” by Elevation Worship, which say – “You take what the enemy meant for evil and you turn it for good.” God can take even the darkest situations and use them for good. What the enemy means for harm, God will use to bless you and many others.

I promise that when you change your mindset to believe that, your entire life will suddenly just take on a whole new meaning. You’ll start to view your problems differently. Instead of asking yourself why something is happening to you, start asking yourself what the Lord is trying to accomplish in you and around you.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

This is an open invitation for you to come find rest in the Lord Jesus Christ. He’s inviting you into a personal relationship with Him. He’s inviting you to come trade your pain for His peace—to lay it all down at His feet. 

Take notice of how it specifically says “all of you.” This is not an exclusive invitation. It includes all who are weary and burdened—all who are exhausted and weighed down by the struggles of life—all who are ladened with things like sin, guilt, anxiety, depression, grief, and so much more.

Jesus is promising to give you the rest that you so desperately need. This is not the type of rest that you can find anywhere in this world, but rather the kind that only He can provide. It’s a deep, spiritual rest that comes along with trusting in Him.

Let’s quickly talk about being overwhelmed. I’ve been feeling pretty overwhelmed lately—not so much from bad things, but just from too many things. Just a lot of stress and changes happening all at once in my life.

I was just about to turn to the Bible to see what God had to say to me about it, but before I even got that far, I immediately started thinking about how overwhelming God’s love is—about how it just overpowers absolutely everything. Suddenly, my feelings of overwhelmingness were quickly replaced with God‘s overwhelming goodness. It’s pretty incredible how the word “overwhelmed” just instantly took on such a new meaning to me.

Whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed by my circumstances, I’m just going to swiftly remind myself of the overwhelming goodness of God and how much of a better place that is to rest my mind.

“Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ (NLT)

It’s wild how many times this verse has come into my mind recently, although I should probably change it to say “a hundred different times” and not just three. I’m not embarrassed or ashamed to admit how many times I’ve begged the Lord to take things away from me. Whether it’s physical or mental pain, financial struggles, parental struggles—the list goes on and on. And just like in Paul’s case, God’s response is grace to navigate my problems rather than removing them.

We have to view our human weakness as being a platform for God’s strength to be displayed. It’s about acknowledging and embracing our human frailty and letting God‘s power work through us. I’m reminded to find joy in my weaknesses because I am met with Jesus during them. My human weakness is met with His strength. Your weakness might be the end of your own strength, but it’s only the beginning of God’s.

“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭3‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬

I just love this verse so much. It really speaks volumes—“the simplicity that is in Christ.” We tend to really overcomplicate religion, don’t we? All we need to be focusing on is JESUS. It’s that “simple.” We need to be vigilant against anything that might be pulling us away from Him. Our minds are so vulnerable and can so easily be deceived by the wiles of the devil and the flesh. We need to keep our minds fixed on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I recently came across something in my counseling studies that I would love to share. Isaiah 42:3 is a messianic prophetic passage that is later fulfilled in Matthew 12:20. The NLT version reads like this: “He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally He will cause justice to be victorious. And His name will be the hope of all the world.”

Metaphorically, both a weak reed and a flickering candle represent a person who is fragile and likely suffering a great deal of pain. This means that one’s faith is very low—like a reed that’s about to break, or a burning candle that’s almost extinguished. God will never quench a flickering candle, but rather He will sustain and grow even the smallest flicker of faith. He cares so deeply for the weak and the wavering. This verse greatly highlights the astonishing compassion of Jesus—and it gives us hope to cling to, even if we only have a very small trace of it left. His victory will always prevail over everything.

As I was preparing for a coaching session with someone recently, I started studying laments. In the dictionary, a lament is defined as a passionate expression of grief or sorrow. In a more biblical sense, a lament is defined as a prayer in pain that leads to trust—meaning that it’s a deep and powerful expression of pain brought before the Lord that ultimately reaffirms your faith in Him.

There’s actually an entire book in the Bible called Lamentations, but there are also so many great laments in the book of Psalms—it’s full of them. Psalms has always been one of my favorite books in the Bible for that reason—because it’s filled with so much raw emotion that’s just so relatable to so many.

Psalm 88 in particular is one that really stands out to me. It’s actually one of the few Psalms that doesn’t resolve and ends in darkness. The last verse says: “You have taken away my companions and loved ones. Darkness is my closest friend.” I find it so moving how this serves as such a strong reminder of just how much God welcomes our darkest cries of pain.

Crying out to the Lord really is such a beautiful thing. He sanctifies our sorrow as we surrender it to Him. It’s about passionately taking it all before the Lord and letting it lead you to having deeper faith and a closer relationship with Him.

Very often when I’m trying to think of what I want to write about and share next, I start with how I’m feeling. Lately, I’ve really been feeling like I just try too hard at life. It’s hard to explain exactly what I mean by that, but I guess just the sense that I try a little too hard to be the person that I want to be and live the life that I want to live, if that makes sense. I’ve been starting to feel some conviction from it.

The first word that came to my mind was “covetousness.” In biblical terms, covetousness can be defined as an insatiable desire for worldly gain. And then the next word that came to my mind was “pride.” We all know what pride is.

I had to ask myself these two questions: Am I content? Am I being more of a people pleaser than a God pleaser? I turned to the Bible to address both of these issues.

Not only does the tenth commandment tell us not to covet, but it’s also talked about in several other parts of the Bible as well. Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV) says, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”” Wow. This certainly gives us the best reason ever not to covet—because God has promised to never leave us or forsake us. Our security comes from Him and only Him, not the things of this world. I’m strongly reminded that God is all I need, and God will always give me all that I need.

Galatians 1:10 (NIV) says: “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” We really can’t serve two masters. If you’re only seeking to please people—you’re not serving God, you’re serving yourself. We are to have the same mind as Christ. I’m swiftly reminded to lower myself and serve the Lord with a heart full of humility.

I could seriously go on and on, but I think I’ve made this long enough to get my point across. We’re so blessed to have the Word of God to help us through this crazy life.