Humbling ourselves

James 4:6-7 (VOICE) ⁶ You may think that the situation is hopeless, but God gives us more grace when we turn away from our own interests. That’s why Scripture says, God opposes the proud, but He pours out grace on the humble. ⁷ So submit yourselves to the one true God and fight against the devil and his schemes. If you do, he will run away in failure.

Is it worth being “right” to the point of allowing friendships, family or any relationship to fall by the wayside?    There are times when in a particular situation you’re absolutely right, the other person is right…or maybe no one is right however, we feel the need to hold on to the “I’m right” to the point of allowing relationships to crumble.  This can truly be harmful and even devastating to everyone involved.  Sometimes we need to swallow our pride because it’s more important to let it go and be the bigger person than to be the one who is “right”. 

Too often we allow these issues to grow putting more time and space between you and the other person(s).  Often times not realizing it doesn’t just affect the initial ones involved.  Both sides are too busy thinking the other one is wrong to just let it all go and do what is right.  It’s seems to become easier and easier to just not say anything than to forgive.  We would rather carry the hurt, resentment and hard feelings around, building mental and emotional walls, than to just let it go.  This is exactly what the enemy wants us to do.  It builds hard hearts and feeds our own selfish pride. 

Now I realize there are times when, maybe you have tried to make amends.  You’ve tried talking to the other person and wanted to let the issue go for the greater picture, only to find your efforts in vain.  It’s at this time that we have done what we can and now must leave it to God and take it to Him in prayer.  If our hearts and minds were in the right place when we made that attempt, then it’s my belief that nothing more can be expected of us except to continue to pray about it and trust God to fix it as He sees fit. 

I’ve been on both sides of the problem;  I’ve been the one who swallowed my pride to make it right and sadly I can also say that I’ve been the one to hold on to the issue rather than just let it go.  I can honestly say that holding onto hurtful things is truly a no win situation.  We’re right….now what?  We’ve lost relationships, built up hard to tear down emotional walls and even hurt others involved.  What good or purpose does this serve? 

I’m realistic enough to understand that sometimes it is better to just walk away…those aren’t the times I’m talking about here.  The times when it doesn’t really matter nor does anyone any good to be “right” or “wrong”, that is what I am referring to.  Sometimes we can really be a very prideful people and pride is not what God calls for us to walk in.  I don’t doubt that it can be very hard to take the first step, but I can also say that in the end…it is so much more worth it.  Not only are we mending the situation and relationships, but we are humbling ourselves and showing God’s love in and through our actions.  This is the true love of God!