Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven. . . . Those who walk in pride he is able to humble. (Dan. 4:37)
Expanded Passage: Daniel 4:28-37
Growing up in eastern North Carolina, shoes were optional for kids. One day, my best friend and I were playing on our dock, which had splinters everywhere. Running back and forth, my friend picked up a two-inch splinter in the tender meat of his arch. As he writhed around in pain, my dad ran out to remove it, only to find it was so deep that it required some cutting away. I had to help my friend let go and trust that, although it may hurt, my dad could remove the source of pain so his foot could heal.
Nebuchadnezzar had found himself at a place of deep pain. Through seven years of brokenness, God allowed the source of pain to remain. Sometimes, God must allow us to continue in pain until we are moved to a place of release. At the end of his pain, the king finally saw that God was able.
Although we may never find ourselves in the same state Nebuchadnezzar found himself in, God can use the consequences of our sin to bring us release in humility. We may want to grasp tighter in an effort to hold onto our pride. However, the harder we squeeze the deeper it buries itself within us. The only thing we can do is to unclench, trust, and release ourselves to the God who is able.
Recognize that God can bring us from pride to humility.
Aaron Golden is a church planter in North Carolina, husband to Leneé, and father to four amazing kids. You can find Aaron most often hanging with family, smoking on his Traeger grill, and boating or paddle surfing.
© 2023 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
