Pride is Exhausting

Have you ever marveled at the simplicity of a child? They see, they say. In their innocence, they have not yet learned how to play the game of "pretend my life is perfect and I've got this all under control." How did we get trapped in the game of unreality? 

Pride. And pride is exhausting. 

Are you afraid to be yourself? Genuine yet flawed? Striving to keep up an image of having it "all together" will wear a person out, and in the end, we all know it's just an illusion anyway. There is a better course: meekness.

Just because meekness rhymes with weakness doesn't mean that they are related. It takes strength to bear the yoke of meekness and lowliness. In fact, we are more prone to the weak habit of wearing the crown of pride with the body sash of self-elevation. "Wow, you are amazing!" whispers pride to the gullible.

Maybe we're just trying too hard to make everything look just right so that others will be wowed and attracted to Christ. Is that it?

Did Christ ask us to do that? No. But somewhere along the route, we passed along the heritage of "make it look good, even if it isn't." We don't have to live like that, and it's surely not the meek life. Christ said to do it this way: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matt. 11:29)

But before He gave us that lovely invitation, He said this: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28) Have you ever considered that one of the reasons we're so heavy laden may be that we're creating an unnecessary burden of trying to portray an image of perfection? What is at the root of this habit?

Pride.

When we imagine that we have to be the model wife, raise straight-A students, fix all problems and do it all without a hair out of place, we are wearing ourselves out with the pride of being a false-image-bearer. Are we laboring for the wrong things? If we're laboring to make ourselves look good, then we're laboring wrong. If we're laboring to magnify the Lord in this vaporous life, then we're laboring right.

Slow down and evaluate your motives. Just pause. No one is coming over to your house to build a monument in your yard for the "most perfect family," so let the flaws live on, but check your self-produced life pattern against the Word. Does your Christian life even have anything to do with Christ? If it does, you'll sense His grace abounding as He guides you.

If your life is just a stage and you're the star, then you'll be worn out. How about resigning from the stage production and walking humbly with God? It's a daring move, but we're all naturals for the role of being ourselves. 

Pride is exhausting. No wonder we need so much rest. Time for a change. Meekness is the refreshing way to go.

"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matt. 11:30)

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