Let’s Be Real

Let’s Be Real

All of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

We were getting ready to host a party, and I was feeling a bit nervous. A large group of people were coming, and we had a lot to do. One of our young single friends came to help. As she saw my husband and me interacting, she noticed our anxiety, and stated, “Oh, I’m kind of relieved to see that you’re nervous.”

“Why is that?” I asked.

“Because now I know you feel nervous too when you’re having people over.”

“Of course we do!” I responded honestly.

The party came and went just fine, and as we were cleaning up, I found myself thinking about my younger friend’s comments. I was a bit embarrassed in the moment that she saw us when we were stressed out, but afterward, I was glad she had. I didn’t want her thinking we have it all together all the time.

Too often we can try to present a perfect appearance to others, giving the illusion that we have it all together or that nothing ever causes us stress or anxiety. When we do that, we don’t show people who we really are and can create the expectation that they have to be perfect as well.

But this is not what God would have us do. As we interact with our friends, we can choose to wear a humble spirit, remembering that God opposes those who are proud but gives grace to the humble. I would not have done my young friend any favors if I hadn’t humbly let her see our weaknesses. She would most likely have left feeling discouraged by her own shortcomings. Instead, she was encouraged by us to pursue the things God was asking her to do, even when she was afraid, because she knew that others were doing the same thing. Our showing her our own insecurities gave her boldness to step out in faith.

— Kendra

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

When you feel the pressure to put up a facade with a friend, choose to be honest with them instead.