I've seen the devastating effects of pride play out countless times - both on stage through the stories we tell in our Blink productions and in real life through counseling countless individuals and families. Today, I want to share some profound insights about pride that I believe could transform your relationships and spiritual life.
The Devastating Reality of Pride in Our Lives
Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
be assured, he will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 16:5, ESV)
God detests pride. In Proverbs 16:5, Scripture uses incredibly strong language to describe God's reaction to pride - He finds it disgusting, like how you might feel about your least favorite food. But why such a strong response? Because pride destroys everything it touches.
Through our recent Blink production, we portrayed a family torn apart by pride. While the story was fictional, the response was overwhelming. Night after night, people approached me after the show, tears streaming down their faces, saying, "That was my story." Some identified with the daughter who carried the weight of her parents' broken marriage. Others saw themselves in the husband or wife, trapped in cycles of blame and defensiveness.
The Prison of Pride
Pride creates an invisible prison that most of us don't even realize we're in. It blinds us to truth, especially truth about ourselves. In our story, both main characters, Emily and Teddy, were stuck in this prison. Emily hid her drinking not because she was truly ashamed, but because she didn't want her husband to "have leverage in an argument." Teddy, despite his love for his daughter, said the most hurtful thing possible: "I never wanted a child."
This is what pride does - it makes us say and do things that devastate the people we love most, all because we can't admit our own faults or vulnerabilities. Instead of saying "that hurt me," we try to hurt others more. Instead of apologizing, we double down on our harmful words and actions.
The Pain of Pride
One of the most devastating aspects of pride is how it erodes our character. In our story, Teddy was initially drawn to Emily because she exemplified kindness, humility, and authenticity - qualities she learned from her Christian parents. Yet years later, in their heated argument, he tells her she's "nothing like" her parents anymore. Similarly, Emily was attracted to how Teddy made her feel "seen and heard," yet she later accuses him of verbal abuse and ignoring her during their hardest times.
This is what happens when our character disintegrates. The very qualities that make us who we are - our best traits - disappear because we're too proud to acknowledge our faults or accept responsibility for our actions.
The Product of Pride
Perhaps the most heartbreaking aspect of pride is its impact on our children. In our story, while both parents blamed each other, their daughter Matilda internalized the blame, believing their problems were somehow her fault. This isn't just drama - I've met countless adults still carrying the emotional weight of their parents' pride-fueled conflicts.
Remember this: if you're living in pride and thinking "nothing bad has happened yet," stop now. Pride will always lead to death. It's only a matter of time before the consequences catch up with us.
The Paradox of Truth
The very thing that has the potential to hurt us the most - truth - is often the thing that has the potential to heal us the most. In our story, two strong women of faith confront Teddy with hard truths. His daughter tells him he's drowning and can't save himself. His mother-in-law calls him a coward for refusing to acknowledge God.
Speaking truth in love isn't just about saying true things nicely. Speaking truth IS love. When we truly love someone, we tell them the truth, even at the risk of them being offended or distancing themselves. Just as parents must sometimes say hard things to protect their children, sometimes the most loving thing we can do is speak difficult truths to those we care about.
The Power of Repentance
True freedom from pride comes through repentance. Not the kind that makes excuses or blames others, but the kind that takes full responsibility. In our story, Teddy finally reaches this point, admitting his gluttony, his failures as a husband and father, and his rejection of God.
This is what real repentance looks like: asking for forgiveness, taking personal responsibility, and making no excuses. When we reach this point, we break free from pride's prison and experience the beauty of redemption.
The Beauty of Redemption: God's Answer to Pride
The beautiful truth is that God's love is bigger than our pride. Even in our story, which ends tragically for Emily, we see God's redemptive power as she's reunited with her family in heaven after Teddy and Matilda's relationship is restored through faith.
But you don't have to wait for tragedy to experience redemption. The answer to pride is simple but profound: put Jesus first, always. Not just first on a list, but first in every area of your life - your marriage, your job, your hobbies, everything.
Breaking Free: Your Next Steps
If you recognize pride's prison in your own life, here are some practical steps to break free:
- Acknowledge your need for God.
- Take responsibility for your actions without making excuses.
- Ask for forgiveness, both from God and those you've hurt.
- Practice humility by accepting hard truths from others.
- Put Jesus first in every area of your life.
Remember, choosing humility over pride isn't a one-time decision - it's a daily choice. But here's the good news: while you're choosing to never give up on God, He's already promised to never give up on you.
Pride may be our greatest enemy, but through Christ, we have everything we need to break free from its prison. The question is: are you ready to take that first step toward freedom today?
