My Biggest Struggle

Has there ever been a lesson in your life that you feel like you keep having to learn over and over and over? That’s how I feel about pride. I feel like God has been teaching me this lesson all my life.

Pride is anything that exalts yourself—whether over or under exalted. It is anything that focuses on “me”. It can masquerade itself it many different masks. Did you realize that low self-esteem is pride? Beth Moore said, “Pride is self-absorption whether we’re absorbed with how miserable we are or how wonderful we are.” What else does pride look like?

“I feel under appreciated. Once again, another guy has passed me up. Why don’t they pick me? Everyone else seems to think that I am so pretty and so funny. Why don’t they see what everybody else sees? I just don’t get it.”

“I lost another tennis match. I don’t understand why I keep losing. I am good at this sport. I have the best ground strokes on the team, yet I can’t win many matches. The girl who beat me has one of the worst swings on the team. How did this happen?”

“I am always the one doing all the work. Does my boss see me? Does he think I do a good job? I don’t think anyone here appreciates me!”

“She is so much prettier than me. She is more outgoing than me, and she has a boyfriend. I am “nothing”. I want people to notice ME.”

These are all thoughts I have had throughout the years. Have thoughts like these ever crossed your mind? Maybe yours haven’t been about guys or tennis, but they could be about anything you feel you deserved but didn’t get to have. Or perhaps you felt underappreciated. If you answered “yes” to any of these, it’s a sign of pride. Pride can creep into your life undetected. I never knew what pride looked like until after college. I had heard countless messages on the subject, but it was only head knowledge and not heart knowledge. These thoughts have filled my mind lately. Therefore, I have been trying to renew my mind to the truth. I wanted to share a poem with you about Pride written by Beth Moore. Maybe if you are like me and struggle with pride, it can be an encouragement to you.

"My name is Pride. I am a cheater.

I cheat you of your God-given destiny...because you demand your own way.

I cheat you of contentment...because you“deserve better than this.”

I cheat you of knowledge...because you already know it all.

I cheat you of healing...because you’re too full of me to forgive.

I cheat you of holiness...because you refuse to admit when you’re wrong.

I cheat you of genuine friendship...because nobody’s going to know the real you.

I cheat you of love...because real romance demands sacrifice.

I cheat you of greatness in heaven...because you refuse to wash another’s feet on earth.

I cheat you of God’s glory...because I convince you to seek your own.

My name is Pride. I am a cheater.

You like me because you think I’m always looking out for you. Untrue.

I’m looking to make a fool of you.

God has so much for you, I admit, but don’t worry...

If you stick with me you’ll never know." --Beth Moore

Blessings,
Sarah Bragg