There are two kinds of pride, and only one of them looks like pride.
“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'” (James 4:6, ESV)
The first pride is loud. I do not need to ask. I am the answer. I can handle it. We all recognize that one.
The second is quieter. It sounds like this. I am not worthy to ask. He would not answer me anyway. Look at what I have done. That sounds like humility. It is not. It takes your own verdict on yourself and makes it final. It trusts your judgment over His grace. It is you sitting in God’s chair, ruling on a case that was never yours.
One says I am too big to need grace. The other says I am too far gone to get it. Both stop the ask.
And James answers both with three words. But he gives more grace. More than the fighting. More than the wanting. More than you have earned.
Today: Which pride is yours right now, too big or too far gone? Name it. Then say the three words back to it. More grace.