Cancel the pity party

When you read something in your devotional time in the morning, then two hours later have a speaker focus on the same topic, I think it's a safe assumption to say that God is trying to tell you something.

The topic du jour is humility. The kicker for me was this quote by John Piper we read during our morning conference session:

"The nature and depth of human pride are illuminated by comparing boasting to self-pity. Both are manifestations of pride. Boasting is the response of pride to success. Self-pity is the response of pride to suffering. Boasting says, "I deserve admiration because I have achieved so much." Self-pity says, "I deserve admiration because I have suffered so much" . . . The reason self-pity doesn't look like pride is that appears to be so needy. But the wound arises from a wounded ego. It doesn't come from a sense of unworthiness, but from a sense of unrecognized worthiness. It is the response of unapplauded pride."

Read that a few times, then consider this: God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. That means God doesn't accept invitations to my pity parties. I confess I have always seen pride from the viewpoint of boasting, but not that of self-pity. And I will confess further that I have spent more time at Gina-hosted pity parties than I care to admit. Self-pity and humility are in opposition with one another. I want to keep this in mind the next time I think life hasn't been as kind to me as I "deserve." I hope instead that I'll go to God for the grace I need. I'm pretty sure He'll give it.