Psalm 131:1-3 Lord, I have given up my pride and turned away from arrogance. I am not concerned with great matters or with subjects too difficult for me. Instead, I am content and at peace. As a child lies quietly in its mothers arms, so my heart is quiet within me. Israel, trust in the Lord now and forever. GNT
Psalm 131 is a psalm of humility. It is the end of “me, me, me” and finding a place of quiet contentment in God’s presence. This is where God wants each of us and this is where true peace and contentment occur. God wants to reveal Himself in us and through us so all would come to know Him. Unfortunately we are prone to take a lot of the credit for ourselves or even worse, not even acknowledge God in the things we are doing. We are too prideful and think we can do it all on our own.
An attitude of pride results in an anxious soul which keeps us from feeling the contentment and peace promised to us through Jesus. Pride comes in so many forms. Adam and Eve were the first to sin. They fell for the temptation that they could be like God and they stopped trusting in the things God told them. they wanted to do things their own way. Sinful pride is refusing to recognize God’s sovereign role in every aspect of our lives. It’s the difference between “look what I did and how well I did it” and “look what God did through an imperfect person like me”. Striving for more and better in this world has no end and it will leave us exhausted and anxious, always looking for the next project or accomplishment. But when we give up our pride and acknowledge God’s hand in our lives and His work in us, we feel contentment and peace. He is in charge! We don’t need to strive or work for God’s peace. We need to confess our pride to Him and then trust that He has a plan and is working it to completion everyday.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.