September 3
The Fall
of Arrogance
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but with humility comes wisdom."
Proverbs 11:2 (NIrV)
Henry had always believed that no case was too big, no challenge too difficult. As one of the top lawyers in his firm, his reputation was built on winning, often against the odds. Clients trusted him because he never doubted his abilities, and they saw him as someone who could solve anything. He had a way with words, with arguments, and most importantly—he had a belief in his own infallibility.
So when a high-profile client came to him with a case that everyone else had turned down, Henry immediately accepted, convinced that he could do what no one else could. The case was complex, full of holes, but Henry didn’t see the holes. He didn’t see the flaws. He didn’t see the risks. He was too sure of himself.
In the days that followed, Henry threw himself into the case with all the intensity he could muster. He stayed up late, skipping meals, ignoring his team’s suggestions, and brushing off warnings from his colleagues. He thought they were just being cautious—something he had no time for. He was going to win this case on his own terms.
But as the trial wore on, the cracks began to show. Small details he had ignored started to surface. A piece of evidence, a vital piece of testimony, slipped through his grasp because he had been too focused on his own brilliance to pay attention to the basics. His arrogance had blinded him. He miscalculated the strategy and underestimated his opponent, and the trial, which he was sure he would win, began to slip away from him.
In the final hours, as the jury deliberated, Henry sat alone in his office. The weight of his mistakes hit him all at once. The case was lost. The client was disappointed. His colleagues were disappointed. And worst of all, Henry realized that he had lost his own self-respect. His pride had led him down a path of disgrace.
Sitting at his desk, staring at the papers that were now useless, Henry felt a pang of guilt. He had been so sure of himself, so convinced that no one else knew better than him, that he had neglected the very thing that had made him successful in the first place: humility.
In that quiet moment, Henry prayed. It was simple, raw, and honest.
"God, I was wrong. I thought I could do this on my own. I thought I had it all figured out. But I see now that I need You. Please give me the wisdom to be humble, to listen, and to acknowledge that I am not always in control."
A peace settled over him in the silence of his office. It wasn’t a magic fix, and the case couldn’t be undone, but Henry knew that humility would be the path forward. He didn’t have all the answers, and for the first time in a long time, he realized that he didn’t need to. What he needed was the wisdom to ask for help when he needed it and the grace to learn from his mistakes.
Prayer:
Lord,
I come before You today acknowledging my own pride.
Like Henry, I sometimes think I have it all figured out, but I see now that without humility, I am lost.
Please help me to seek wisdom, not just for myself, but to listen to others and lean on You.
May I have the humility to learn from my failures and grow through them.
Thank You for Your grace and for teaching me that true wisdom comes from trusting in You.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
