Learning Humility

Feb 25
3 min read

This morning, my Bible reading brought me to Colossians 3:12, and one word has stayed with me all day:

Humility.

I keep coming back to that phrase — “clothe yourselves with humility.” It feels intentional, like something I have to choose every day, not something that just naturally happens.

And honestly, humility feels complicated to me right now.

Lately I’ve been reflecting on some of my relationships and personal choices, and I find myself wrestling with a mix of emotions — regret, gratitude, growth, and sometimes guilt. It’s easy in those moments to start believing that humility means focusing on where I’ve failed or where I should have done better.

Sometimes I catch myself thinking that feeling bad about myself somehow equals humility.

But I’m starting to wonder if that isn’t humility at all.

Maybe it’s just shame wearing a spiritual disguise.

Because the verse doesn’t start with humility.

It starts with this:

“God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved.”

That part almost feels backwards to me, because when I think about humility, I tend to start with my mistakes. But Paul starts from a completely different place, with love.

Deep love.

Chosen love.

Undeserved love.

And maybe that’s where humility actually begins.

I think, for much of my life, I believed humility meant thinking less of myself... noticing my flaws, my failures, and where I’ve fallen short. It felt almost right to stay there, like it kept me honest.

But lately I’m realizing that true humility might be something different.

Maybe humility is simply telling the truth about myself in the presence of God.

The truth that says:

I am deeply loved.

I am deeply flawed.

And I need grace every single day.

All of those things can exist at the same time.

There’s another truth that feels harder to admit.

Humility means accepting that I am not in control.

I can’t control outcomes.

I can’t control how others feel.

I can’t rewrite the past.

I can’t fix everything.

Part of me still wants to.

Part of me wants to make everything right, especially for the people I care about.

And when I can’t, I feel the weight of that.

Maybe humility is accepting my limits instead of fighting them.

Maybe humility is saying:

“Lord, I need you.”

Not as a spiritual phrase, but as an honest admission.

When I think about Jesus and humility, what stands out to me most is that He never seemed to be proving anything.

He didn’t rush to defend Himself.

He didn’t fight to protect His reputation.

He didn’t demand to be understood.

There is something incredibly peaceful about that.

I am not there yet.

Sometimes I still want to explain myself.

Sometimes I still want to be understood.

Sometimes I still want to be right.

And maybe humility is simply noticing that and bringing it to God.

The more I sit with this verse, the more I see humility less as a personality trait and more as a posture.

Maybe humility is living open-handed before God.

Nothing to prove.

Nothing to defend.

Nothing to hide.

Just: Here I am, Lord.

Still learning.

Still growing.

Still dependent on You.

Today, my prayer is simple:

Lord, teach me humility. Not the kind that comes from beating myself up, but the kind that comes from trusting You. Help me remember that I am chosen and dearly loved —even while I am still learning how to walk this road.

And maybe that is where humility really begins.

If you would like a copy of any of the devotionals or books I reference, please request one below, and I would be honored to send you one. Please reference the title of the post/devotional to ensure I send you the correct devotional/author. See my mission in the "About Me" link.

#up2Him #changinglivesfound #bekind #cyw #transformation #christianwisdom #servantleadership #bestill #clarity #strength #FaithJourney #SpiritualGrowth #TrustGod #Surrender #IdentityInChrist #FaithOverFear #ListeningForGod #humility