Our Daily Bread: Character-Driven LeadershipEsimerkki

Confident Humility

You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. -James 1:19

Psychologist Adam Grant explains that the human tendency to stick to a “losing course of action” is a phenomenon called “escalation of commitment.” We tend to believe that the best path forward is to double down on whatever we’ve already invested our time and energy into—long after all signs point to it being a mistake!

The alternative, Grant suggests, is “confident humility,” which leads to “being secure enough in your strengths to acknowledge your weaknesses.” Having both confidence and humility gives us the freedom to continually learn, grow, and change as we lead others.

James’ epistle describes humility as the solution to foolishly persisting in our old ways even after God’s truth has revealed our weaknesses (JAMES 1:22–24). This tendency James memorably describes as being like someone closely examining themselves in the mirror before immediately forgetting what they’ve seen.

If we instead “humbly accept the word God has planted in [our] hearts” (V. 21), we’ll also cultivate a willingness to learn from others—being “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry” (V. 19).

As we do so, we’ll find that the path of humble obedience—daily transformed by the leading of the Spirit—is also the path of confidence, freedom, and joy (V. 25).

MONICA LA ROSE

What fears often drive our unwillingness to invite needed change in our lives? How have you experienced God leading you to change and grow even as you lead others?

Loving God, help us live out the humility and confidence we need to grow and change as believers and leaders through our relationship with You.