Humility Isn’t Thinking Less of Yourself—It’s Thinking of Yourself Less

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself: What is humility, really?
We hear words like humility, humbleness, and meekness tossed around in conversation, media, and sermons. But have you ever truly seen someone walk a life of humility?

Strangely, we admire humble people—but rarely think of them as leaders to follow. Humility seems counterintuitive in a world that prizes power, self-promotion, and attention. Yet I’ve come to realize: humility is not weakness, and it certainly isn’t poor self-esteem. In fact, humility may be the most courageous, freeing posture of all.

Learning from the Greatest Example

There is one person I look to who models perfect humility: Jesus Christ.
He emptied Himself by taking on the form of a servant. He humbled Himself by becoming obedient—even unto death on a cross. Through His life, I’m reminded to do nothing out of selfish ambition or pride, but to count others more significant than myself.

True humility doesn’t mean denying your gifts. It means recognizing that your gifts are not from you—they’re for others, and ultimately from God.

Mistakes: A Remedy for Pride

One of the most honest ways I evaluate my humility is by remembering my mistakes. Mistakes have a way of silencing pride. They remind me that my confidence can’t come from myself. But this leads to a deeper question: How do I stay confident without slipping into arrogance—or self-deprecation?

The answer is this: humility is not thinking less of myself; it’s thinking of myself less.
That’s how C.S. Lewis put it, and it holds true. My confidence doesn’t need to be in myself—but in God, who cares for me, loves me, equips me, and is with me.

Confidence Rooted in God

Humility isn’t self-glorification. But it’s not self-hatred either.
It’s a posture of surrender. I don’t boast in myself—I boast in what God can do through me.

The Bible says:

“The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.”
“I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit…”
“Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.”

This is the way of Christ—and the path to true freedom.

The Healing Power of Humility

I’ve often mistaken humility for low self-esteem. But in reality, when I’m consumed by how others perceive me or how I feel about myself, that’s not humility—it’s self-absorption. Whether I’m thinking too much of myself or too little, I’m still focused on me.

Humility invites us to focus on someone else—on Jesus, and on others. That shift brings freedom. It allows us to take risks, to love without fear, and to serve without recognition. In doing so, we not only glorify Christ—we help heal the communities around us.

A Daily Invitation

Every day brings opportunities to practice humility. You may not always feel like it. But when you remember the humility of Christ, you begin to realize: it’s in laying yourself down that you become most alive.

"He must increase, but I must decrease." – John 3:30