When Pride Prevents Peace: 3 Ways to Walk in Freedom

Where pride builds walls, humility opens doors. This month’s blog unpacks 3 ways pride prevents freedom and how humility leads us to rest, relationship, and renewal.

And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for

“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 1

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. (1 Peter 5:5-9)

As I recently read this familiar passage in I Peter while sipping my morning coffee, I became aware of three connected threads which I really had not noticed woven together before. Chapters and verses were not part of the original manuscript. Due to verse numbers, I had separated 1 Peter 5:5-6, from 5:7, and from 5:8-9. Standing out to me like a white dogwood tree in full bloom surrounded by a green, forest, I noticed the common thread throughout these verses being linked to pride. There are three ways this passage speaks to how pride undermines our peace, God’s blessings and our best life.

Three Ways Pride Prevents Peace

1. Pride pits us in direct opposition to God.

Instead of being on the same team with a common goal, we are now at odds with one another fighting for different outcomes. Pride prevents us from receiving God’s blessings and even sensing His presence or hearing His voice accurately, because God opposes pride. So when I cling to pride, in my heart, mind, attitude, words and/or actions, I am actually pitting myself in opposition to God. Being in opposition to God opens the door for the enemy.

2. Pride opens the door for the enemy.

It’s as if the enemy comes to the door of my house (mind) and knocks. Instead of keeping the door closed, I open it just a crack, enough for him to get his foot in then eventually enter all the way. Or perhaps I just open it wide and invite him on in!

Resist the devil and he will flee. Turn to God, stand firm in your faith and the enemy will leave. Humble yourself before God. Change and growth are possible only when we are humble. Pride keeps us stuck, afraid, and self-focused.

Humility is a posture of the heart and a choice of the head.

Humility is not to be confused with humiliation and true humility is never humiliating. Humility is the ability to see my true relationship with God and others. Humility is a perpetual quietness of heart. I do my part and trust God to do His. Humility helps me see myself in true perspective.3

3. Dwelling on worry, fear and daily concerns opens the door for the enemy.

When I hold on to my daily concerns by focusing my thoughts, energy, and attention on the cares of life, I am caught in a mental web of worry. I am not humbly trusting and resting in God. I am actually still acting and thinking in pride. By holding onto my worries and concerns, anxieties and fears, expectations and disappointments – instead of giving them to God – I open the door for the enemy.

When I give all my cares and fears, concerns and worries to God, I am choosing to trust Him. Some versions say, “cast” or “throw” or “roll” your cares and worries on God. (1 Peter 5:7) These words are verbs, an action requiring effort on my part. As I praise God and focus on God’s greatness, love, faithfulness and goodness I am standing firm against the strategies of the enemy.

But when my focus is on myself and my circumstances, weighed down by the cares of life, I open the door for the enemy to devour my peace, joy, trust, rest, productivity, and God’s presence.

As I read this passage (1 Peter 5:5-9), what I realize is this: it is a daily choice I make to stand firm in God’s grace. To trust God. To clothe myself in humility. To resist the enemy and keep the door shut to his clever strategies and tactics.

After making this connection, I write about it and pray. I ask God to help me apply it to my life.

The. Very. Next. Day. (I kid you not), I wake with the dawn, roll over and try to go back to sleep. But my mind gravitates to worry about the future, family, finances…like a vortex sucking me away from the peace I just experienced yesterday. I toss the covers aside, pour a cup of coffee, feeling irritated and anxious. All. Over. Again. When I open my journal to write, I read the entry from the previous day and that’s when I am aware of how my thoughts are affecting my attitude. Right here. Right now. This day I don’t get back.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 

2 Corinthians 3:17

What truly gives us freedom from fear is God’s Spirit living in us. Living in the strength and power of God's indwelling Spirit is rooted in humility. Living in our own limited strength and human understanding is rooted in pride. The choice is ours. Every moment. Every day.

Questions for Reflection: Is there one of the three ways where you feel pride is robbing you of peace? If so, how is that negatively impacting your life? What is an action step you can take to shift your mindset about this and foster an attitude of humility instead?

Prayer: Oh loving Lord, you showed us humility when you clothed yourself in flesh and came to earth to live among us. When you extended grace and kindness to the lowly, the lonely, the hurting and afraid, the sick and outcast, and the average, ordinary people of the world. People just like me. Forgive me for my pride. Change my heart, Lord. Show me what it means to have a posture of humility before you and an attitude of humility in my relationships with others so that I may live in the freedom you purposed. Thank you. Amen.

Encourage others and share this blog on social with your friends! 

Through a holistic approach and authentic connection, I empower individuals to take control of their health, mindset and choices. I lead with purpose, inspire growth, and cultivate a community where you are equipped to rise, thrive, and live life fully aligned in mind, body, and soul. To learn more, schedule HERE for a free, no-obligation Flourish Discovery Session.

Exchange your struggles for purpose! In my Intentional Living Course you will learn proven strategies in 8 key areas equipping you to live intentionally. Check out Courses to learn more or enroll.

Download your free Flourish Guide HERE 

Editor's Note:

This devotional blog is by Jen Stone-Sexton, Author, Speaker, Christian Life Coach, and Founder. Jen has openings for a select number of new clients. Learn more about Jen and what Freedom to Flourish Life Coaching has to offer you.

Jennifer C. Stone-Sexton © 2025

All graphics created by Jen Stone-Sexton © 2025

All Rights Reserved.

---

Credits:

1 1 Peter 5:5 quoting Proverbs 3:34

2 Courage to Change, One Day at a Time in Al-Anon II (page 142, 161) © Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. 1992

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references from the Holy Bible: New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinoi 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission.

New King James Version ® (NKJV). Copyright © by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.