Gospel Reflections #433: God knows our weaknesses better than we do

Proverbs 29:5 “He who humbles himself to his friend is a net for his every step."

Our natural tendency is to exalt those who praise us and avoid those who criticize us.

This is because, due to the influence of this world of sin, we live in a value system in which it is wonderful to exalt ourselves.

It also pulls us to set our focus on people rather than on God.

The Bible does not hide human folly, weakness, failures, and mistakes; rather, it tells it like it is. God does not take issue with such things, nor does He value our accomplishments and great deeds.

God is pleased that we, like little children, make the choice to "admit that we cannot do anything and that we cannot live except by relying on our parents (God)," and He responds to that choice with sincerity.

Also, for us, a "true friend" is not someone who encourages us by putting us in a good mood, but someone who honestly tells us about our weaknesses and mistakes, thinks and worries with us, and prays with us. Such a person will be courageous enough to say what is hard for us to say. This may cause a temporary crack in our relationship, but it is through such experiences that our bond as friends grows stronger, and that is what a "true friend" is.

God prepares such friends for us.

It is not a friend who humbles himself to us, but a friend who focuses on God. It is a friend who draws us to what we cannot see when we only see what we can see.

God knows our weaknesses better than we do. He never leaves us to walk the path of faith alone.

Of course, God is always there for us, but He has given us friends who are visible and responsive. It is a relationship that allows us to support each other, to pray together, but most wonderfully, to share God's joys and experiences with each other.

This is a visible manifestation of God's relationship with us in this world, and may be the angel God has given us.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.