Humility – Drawing strength from others

 “[they] did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ”

Helaman 3:35

One of the underlying themes of The Book of Mormon is the destructive influence of the antithesis of humility — pride. Reading about the effects of pride upon the more humble people years ago, I was struck with this phrase describing those being persecuted by the prideful class: “[they] did wax stronger in their humility”. Strength is typically not a word associated with humility, but as I pondered this phrase, I came to appreciate the depth of that truth.

The prideful and egotistical seek to navigate life’s challenges on their own without the aid of God or peers. A humble attitude helps us to recognize our dependence upon God and our interdependence with our fellow human beings. Recognizing this need and living in a way that draws on the strength of others as well as our own talents and abilities makes us stronger, more capable, more confident, and more successful in facing all that life demands of us. In this manner, humility leads directly to personal growth and added strength.

As the title of this essay indicates, humility is a foundational virtue: a character trait that forms the base of many other virtues. Let me provide a few examples:

A humble person recognizes that they can learn much from others. This encourages careful listening with a true desire to understand the point of view of others. As we seek to truly understand others, we naturally develop empathy. Empathy will touch and soften our hearts in a way that engenders feelings of love and charity. Empathy, love, and charity are among the most essential traits to develop in our “development of self”.

Humility’s companion virtue is gratitude.  Our humble recognition of our dependence upon God and our interdependence with our fellow human beings naturally leads to grateful appreciation of their influence in our lives. Similarly, taking the time to acknowledge the many ways our life has been blessed deepens our sense of humility.

Humility deepens faith. Faith requires us to humbly put our trust in God. It frequently requires that we step into the darkness, not knowing ahead of time where our steps will lead. The experience of Joshua crossing the Jordan River and entering the promised land, after roaming the wilderness for forty years, paints a profound analogy with direct application to our life’s journey. As the Israelites stood near the shore of the River Jordan, separating them from the promised land, the Lord instructed Joshua “as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord … shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.”

The Lord promised to part the waters allowing for safe passage across the river, but only once the soles of the feet of the priests entered the water. A miracle would come, but it required sufficient faith to step into the unknown. Likewise, in today’s world God’s blessings are often contingent on our willingness to trust in Him and take steps into the proverbial darkness. Such faith and trust cannot be developed without a humble heart.

Want to increase your strength and capacity? Be humble. Seek help. Find power in partnership.

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