Learning humility in the Christian walk.

by Tiffany Watson

One of the greatest challenges Christians face is the tension between relying on themselves and surrendering to God. In a world that constantly values independence, personal success, and control, it’s easy to trust in our own abilities and plans rather than seek God’s guidance and will. Society often praises self-made success, leading many to believe that the more they control their lives, the more they’ll achieve.

Yet Scripture offers a different perspective, one that calls us to trust God fully and rely on His wisdom, especially when our strength seems sufficient.

Jesus offers the perfect illustration of what this kind of humility and surrender look like. In Matthew 11:29, He invites us to take His yoke upon us and learn from Him, “for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”True rest and peace, then, come from laying down our burdens and taking up Jesus’ yoke. This imagery invites us to relinquish control and surrender to Jesus’ guidance, allowing Him to bear the weight with us. This act of surrendering to God’s will brings about the deep rest and fulfillment we seek.

Jesus the example

Jesus is the ultimate model of humility and surrender to God’s will. His life on earth demonstrated complete reliance on the Father.

Philippians 2:5-8 reminds us that, despite being in the form of God, Jesus “did not consider it robbery to be equal with God” but instead “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant” and submitting to the Father. This passage emphasizes that true greatness in God’s kingdom is rooted in humility, self-denial, and absolute obedience to God’s plan.

In moments of prayer, as in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus expressed His deep reliance on God’s will: “not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). Even when faced with immense suffering on the cross, Jesus surrendered to God’s plan, trusting that it would prevail. His obedience through suffering became the ultimate act of surrender.

Jesus’ humility provides a model for abandoning self-reliance and trusting fully in God’s will, knowing that He will empower us to fulfill His purposes.

Trap

Self-reliance is a common yet dangerous trap for Christians. It often starts with good intentions: using our skills, knowledge, and effort to solve problems or achieve goals.

However, when we prioritize our knowledge over God’s guidance, we drift from the humility that defines kingdom living. Proverbs 3:5, 6 offers a clear warning against this mindset: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

One of the most striking examples of self-reliance leading to failure is King Saul. Initially chosen by God, Saul disobeyed when he chose to rely on his own judgment rather than follow God’s commands. In 1 Samuel 15, Saul’s decision to spare the Amalekite king and livestock, despite God’s instructions to destroy them, showed his dependence on human logic. Saul attempted to justify his actions, but his self-reliance ultimately led to his downfall and God’s rejection of him as king.

In modern life, depending on ourselves can manifest in various ways, like overworking, neglecting prayer, or making important decisions without seeking God’s direction. For example, someone might try to solve financial problems by working more hours, thinking they can fix everything on their own rather than first seeking God’s wisdom. These behaviors, often seen as responsible or practical, reflect a deeper issue: our reluctance to surrender control and fully trust God.

True kingdom living requires abandoning the illusion of our control and acknowledging that God alone is our source of strength and wisdom. As Matthew 6:33 reminds us, we are to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” trusting that everything else will be provided when we surrender to Him.

First steps

How do we move from self-reliance to humility? Through confession and repentance. Confession requires acknowledging our sins and weaknesses before God, letting go of pride, and admitting that we cannot overcome sin on our own. It is recognizing that we need God’s grace and mercy to transform us. First John 1:9 assures us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This cleansing and forgiveness come when we approach God in humility.

King David offers a powerful illustration of confession and repentance in Psalm 51. After committing adultery and murder, he was confronted by the prophet Nathan. Rather than denying his sin or justifying his actions, David humbled himself before God, penning Psalm 51 as a heartfelt prayer of repentance: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (v. 10). David’s honest confession opened the way for God’s mercy and restoration, reminding us that God is always ready to forgive those who approach Him with a humble heart.

Repentance goes beyond merely confessing sin. It involves turning away from self-reliance and choosing to depend on God’s guidance and strength. In Matthew 5:3, Jesus declares, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Those who are “poor in spirit” recognize their spiritual need and, in humility, turn to God for help.

For Christians, practicing regular confession and repentance is essential for growing in humility. By admitting our limitations and seeking God’s strength, we align our lives with His will and draw closer to Him.

Daily surrender

After confessing and repenting, we must daily surrender our will to God — another practice of humility and trust. Every day we are called to acknowledge our dependence on God, release our plans, and seek His guidance in all things. Jesus states this in His teaching on prayer: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Luke 11:2).

There are various opportunities for surrender. One involves trusting God in moments of uncertainty. When the path ahead is unclear or difficult, we tend to rely on our own solutions. For example, when the Israelites were in the wilderness, they grumbled about how they would get food to eat now that they had left Egypt (Exodus 16:2, 3; cf. 14:1-4). God promised them manna every day, but they had to trust Him for it (16:4ff).

Like the Israelites, we must learn to depend on God for our daily needs, even though we may not know how that will happen, and surrender our impulse to control the outcome.

Another key opportunity for surrender is serving others. Jesus modeled this in John 13:14, 15 when He washed His disciples’ feet and taught them to do the same. Serving others allows us to set aside our pride and prioritize their needs over our own desires, reflecting Christ’s humility.

Christian community also plays an essential role in daily surrender. Being part of a community offers encouragement and accountability as we strive to live out humility. Hebrews 10:24 urges us to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (NIV), reminding us that surrender is not a journey we take alone.

Daily surrender is challenging, but it opens the way for deeper intimacy with God and a life shaped by His will.

Blessing

Humility and surrender are the foundation of true kingdom living; Jesus showed us that. When we release control and trust in God, we find not only peace but also spiritual growth. Following Jesus’ example allows God to work powerfully in our lives.

Surrender is part of God’s kingdom, bringing blessings that self-reliance cannot achieve. Let us reflect on areas where self-reliance may be holding us back and ask God to guide us in surrendering those to Him. As we depend on Him more, we will grow into the people He calls us to be — living fully in His kingdom.

The Disciples’ Challenge

The disciples, too, had to learn the importance of humility and surrender.

Peter’s confident declaration in Matthew 26:33, where he insisted he would never fall away, shows the human tendency to rely on personal strength. Yet despite his bold claim, Peter denied Jesus three times (vv. 69-75).

This moment of failure reminds us of the limitations of self-reliance. Only after Jesus’ resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit did the disciples fully embrace the necessity of surrendering to God’s will (Acts 1:8). Empowered by the Spirit, they no longer relied on their own abilities but on God’s power to carry out their mission.

— Tiffany Wilson