The Goodness of Humbling Circumstances

December 3, 2025/Le Ann Trees/
Photo Credit: Ben White / Unsplash

Photo Credit: Ben White / Unsplash

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I would be hard pressed to think of any humbling moment is my life that was enjoyable. Indeed, each one has been quite the opposite. One of the benefits of being in my sixties, however, is having had more time to learn to recognize how God is at work in my life through humbling circumstances for my good.

From Genesis to Revelation the Bible is about humility.

When we encounter humbling circumstances, if at all possible we should dwell upon God’s graciousness in allowing us to discover any hidden pride in our hearts that is impeding our spiritual walk. Stating that doesn’t remove the pain and suffering of humbling circumstances, but hopefully it gives us comfort that God rightly cares more about our growth in godliness than our current level of perceived happiness.

Humility is a virtue we acquire by growing in understanding of the nature of our existence. It is no overstatement to say that from Genesis to Revelation the Bible is about humility: Adam and Eve failed to humbly serve their Creator, choosing instead to act in prideful disobedience. God was born in the flesh to be the humble servant who would save his people from their sinful rebellion. The day will come when “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10-11).

Humbling circumstances aren’t always the result of something we have done wrong.

There are two main kinds of humbling circumstances. The first is the kind over which we have no control, such as an undeserved loss of one’s employment due to layoffs, loss of property due to acts of God, or an embarrassing/uncomfortable situation in which we find ourselves that is not of our own doing.

The second kind of humbling circumstance is something that we have brought upon ourselves due to a variety of reasons, including sin, ignorance, or a foolish decision. We can take heart that God works through both these kinds of circumstances to bring us to a place of humility before him, which is the best place we can be before Christ’s return.

Our sinful natures can compel us to do the opposite of what God desires for us in humbling circumstances.

Being humble involves the recognition that we are creatures, not the Creator. The value of everything we are and have comes from God’s grace alone. There is nothing we need that doesn’t come from God, and there is nothing we can do to make ourselves more valuable in God’s sight. The more we rely on our own merits and accomplishments, the less we will rely on God’s grace and mercy.

When we feel unworthy in some way, we can be tempted to boost our value via various accomplishments, including acquiring wealth, achieving educational milestones, being well traveled, and enhancing our appearance. Yet, what we should be doing is 1) considering from where our worth actually comes, which is from God alone, and 2) learning to find peace in our humbling circumstances, for this is where God has placed us for our good and his glory:

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. (Prov. 3:11-12)

We need to recognize that God sovereignly lays “crooks” in our lives for his good purposes.

Scottish Puritan pastor and theologian Thomas Boston (1676-1732) endured many personal trials and was considered one of the most humble Christian men of his time. He preached a series of sermons on trials and afflictions in the Christian life, which were published under the title, The Crook in the Lot, a wonderfully encouraging book for anyone experiencing suffering based on Ecclesiates 7:13:

Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?

In his sermons on Ecclesiastes 7:13 Boston ministers to us regarding how to respond to trials and afflictions (“crooks”) in our lives:

Humble yourselves under it, as the yoke which the sovereign hand has laid on you. “I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against Him.” &c. Justify God, condemn yourselves, kiss the rod, and go quietly under it; this is the most feasible way to get rid of it, the end being obtained.

Boston’s point above is that we need to recognize God has sovereignly laid “crooks” in our lives for his good purposes. Whether the crook is a result of our own sin, or a test of our faith such as Job faced (Job 1:1-2:10), we are to humbly submit to the Lord’s will for us. Boston goes on to encourage us that God won’t place a crook in our lives we aren’t able to bear:

If you would, in a Christian manner, set yourselves to bear the crook, you would find it easier than you imagine. “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, and you shall find rest to your souls; for My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Satan has no readier way to gain his purpose than to persuade men it is impossible that ever their minds should ply with the crook; that it is a burden to them altogether insupportable; as long as you believe that, be sure you will never be able to bear it. But the Lord makes no crook in the lot of any, but what may be borne of them acceptably, though not sinlessly and perfectly. For there is strength for that effect secured in the covenant, and being by faith fetched, it will certainly come.

Humbling circumstances are for our own good as well.

Boston goes on to point out that there is nothing wrong with trying to remove our humbling circumstances from us, but we must do so in a godly manner and not miss the lessons God is teaching us. Ultimately, our crooks won’t be removed until it is God’s will to do so.

Now and then I will comment, “The good Lord must think I’m a very prideful person, because he keeps finding ways to humble me!” Even though I’m trying to be a bit funny, I actually consider it to be an accurate statement. And the truth is we all carry the sin of pride in our hearts due to our fallen natures. By appreciating our low situations and seeing God’s good will for us in them, we can begin to focus on who God wants us to be and what God wants us to do and let go of our own selfish plans and desires.

We need to humbly bend under God’s loving and sovereign hand and patiently wait for his relief.

Humbling circumstances help us to keep our eyes on Jesus. Humbling circumstances remind us of our humble Savior Jesus Christ, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame” (Heb. 12:2). Humbling circumstances bring us to our knees in utter dependence on God for his help. Humbling circumstances are God’s gift to us because he loves us too much to allow our pride to swell and lead us into destruction.

As Boston exhorts us, instead of railing against God in stubborn willfulness over our crooks, we need to humbly bend under his loving and sovereign hand and patiently wait for his relief in his perfect timing, for God makes everything beautiful in its time (Eccles. 3:11). And it is our Christian duty and joy to help our brothers and sisters in Christ bear their crooks with hope and steadfast trust in God’s faithfulness. May we grow in thankfulness for the humbling circumstances God graciously places in our lives so that we would be conformed to the image of the Son to the glory of God in all things.

This article is adapted from “The Goodness of Humbling Circumstances” in BCL’s July 2024 monthly newsletter “Humility.”

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