Good News for Perfectionists By Kim HylandSample

Day Four

The Fruit of Humility

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7

What could have possibly been wrong with my desire to be a good wife and mom? That desire was born from a very good place. But even a good desire can go bad. In my life, I had begun to believe that I could be perfect—and then beat myself up when, of course, I wasn’t. I needed to learn from Christ’s humility.

As we learn to walk in humility, not only will we not demand our own way, but we also won’t beat ourselves up when we fail. A humble spirit just isn’t thinking a lot about self. It’s also saying, “Yes, Lord,” with a submissive heart to God’s sovereign will as he reveals it day by day through our circumstances. 

Humility widens our view as it minimizes self and sets our trials in their place. It frees us to see God’s blessings even in the midst of trials instead of being threatened or angered by difficulty. And the fruit of embracing humility is humility in response to those around us. Our behavior and relationships should be marked by this fruit. 

Letting go of the ambitions, expectations, and standards my pride had erected hasn’t been easy. The serpent’s hiss is ever present, tempting me to doubt, become discontent, and believe the lie that God is not enough. Humility protects my heart and mind from deception. 

My morning battle demands immediate solutions. While my temptation seems as far from Eden as my messy bedroom is from Paradise, it’s the very same. Will I trust God and his promises, power, wisdom, and love, or will I proudly turn to my own resources to manage my life? 

In his wise design, God made us to have a constant need of him. He did this so we would know his love and power not only at salvation but in our day-to-day lives as well. Humbly embracing the reality of our weakness and his strength opens our hearts and paves the way for us to walk with our Father in the freedom and intimacy Christ bought for us. 

Where are you tempted to doubt God’s power in your life? How do you feel about the idea that our weakness leads us to depend on God?