What can I learn from humiliation? How can it help me grow? - Humiliation - TouchPoints

Ezra 9:6I prayed, “O my God, I am utterly ashamed; I blush to lift up my face to you. For our sins are piled higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached to the heavens.”

Psalm 51:3I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.

Luke 15:16-19“The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’”

When we finally realize the damaging and humiliating effects of our sins, we have two choices. We can either continue in the downward cycle, or we can reach up to God by confessing our sins and repenting of them. We may think and feel ignoring our humiliation will make it go away, but that’s like wearing dirty glasses and pretending we see clearly. Only through confession and repentance can our humiliation be washed away.

2 Chronicles 7:14“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”

2 Chronicles 12:7, 12When the Lord saw their change of heart, he gave this message to Shemaiah: “Since the people have humbled themselves, I will not completely destroy them and will soon give them some relief. I will not use Shishak to pour out my anger on Jerusalem. . . .” Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger was turned away, and he did not destroy him completely. There were still some good things in the land of Judah.

2 Chronicles 32:26Then Hezekiah humbled himself and repented of his pride, as did the people of Jerusalem. So the Lord’s anger did not fall on them during Hezekiah’s lifetime.

Humiliation can lead to our seeking and receiving God’s mercy and forgiveness.

Isaiah 57:15The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.”

Nahum 2:2Even though the destroyer has destroyed Judah, the Lord will restore its honor. Israel’s vine has been stripped of branches, but he will restore its splendor.

Restoration and refreshment can follow humiliation. Sometimes we must be broken to be made whole; we must be wounded to be healed; we must become nothing to become something.

2 Kings 5:9-15So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha’s house. But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.” But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage. But his officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’” So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed! Then Naaman and his entire party went back to find the man of God. They stood before him, and Naaman said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”

Matthew 1:19-21, 24-25Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” . . . When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Humiliation can lead to trust and obedience. Sometimes we may not learn to trust and obey until difficulties force us to.

Psalm 25:9He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.

Proverbs 11:2Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

1 Corinthians 4:14I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.

Humiliation can lead to instruction, understanding, and wisdom.

Proverbs 15:33Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.

Proverbs 18:12Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.

Proverbs 22:4True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life.

Proverbs 29:23Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.

Luke 14:11“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Humiliation and shame may lead to humility. Humility leads to confession and forgiveness, thoughtfulness in our speech, and wisdom in our actions. This leads to honor.

Psalm 131:1Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp.

Luke 2:7She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

2 Corinthians 8:9You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

Philippians 2:6-8Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Hebrews 13:12-14So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.

As we humble ourselves, we become more like Jesus, for he humbled himself to the point of dying on the Cross for our sins.