The Quiet Strength of Balance

“Balance” is a word that frequently finds its place in the margins of my Bible. As I read, I’m often drawn to the ways God holds things in tension—justice and mercy, truth and grace. One of the clearest examples of this balance is humility, and it’s the one that has shaped me most.

For much of my early life, my understanding of humility was shaped by painful experiences. I had learned, often unconsciously, that being humble meant ignoring my own worth whenever someone else needed something from me. Over time, I came to believe that my value depended on how well I served others, even at the cost of my own well-being.

Eventually, that belief began to crumble. I realized something had to change. Because I hadn’t yet learned that my worth was unshakable in God, I tried to reclaim it the only way I knew how—by fighting for it. I pushed back. I drew hard lines. I said, “No more.” That fight for dignity sometimes came across as pride, but it was really a desperate attempt to protect something sacred that had been trampled for far too long.

It was Jesus who showed me another way.

In the Gospels, we see Christ hold both self-worth and humility in perfect tension. He knew who He was: secure in His identity and confident in His calling. He didn’t need to defend His worth, yet He never hesitated to serve. He challenged religious systems that distorted God’s truth, yet willingly laid down His life out of love.

This kind of balance is only possible when we root our identity in Christ. Because of Jesus, we can stand before God fully known and fully loved. Our worth is not something we have to earn or fight for—it has already been given.

And when we live from that place of deep knowing, our acts of service are no longer rooted in proving our value. Instead, they become a response to the love we’ve received. We can pour ourselves out, not from emptiness, but from abundance.

How do you hold space for both humility and self-worth in your own life?

Where might God be inviting you to see yourself through Christ’s eyes?