Unity Through Humility
Unity Through Humility
Out here in the Black Hills, ranch work teaches you a lot about humility. A few summers back, I watched two seasoned cowboys work a young horse together. One held the lead rope, the other spoke softly, guiding the horse through the first steps of training. No yelling, no forcing. Just steady hands and quiet confidence.
It struck me how much strength they had and how much restraint. They weren’t trying to prove who was in charge. They were working in unison for the good of the horse. It was humility in action: strength under control. And it was the only reason that moment worked.
That’s the picture Paul gives us in Ephesians 4:1–2: “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” If we want unity, in our churches, our families, and our communities, it’s going to grow in the soil of humility.
Humility doesn’t mean weakness. It’s not pretending you don’t have skills or opinions. It’s knowing your strength and choosing to use it gently. Think of that young horse, powerful but learning to respond to a soft touch. That’s humility. Jesus modeled this perfectly. He washed His disciples’ dusty feet. He ate with people others rejected. He chose a cross over a crown. Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less.
Unity doesn’t just happen. It’s built one humble choice at a time. When we’re humble, we listen before we speak, ask questions instead of assuming, and give grace for someone’s rough edges. Paul says we’re to “make allowances for each other’s faults.” That doesn’t mean excusing sin; it means remembering we’re all a work in progress. It’s the difference between saying, “Why can’t they get it together?” and asking, “How can I love them while they grow?”
I think about this when I watch my husband move cattle. Out here, you learn real quick that slower and calmer is better than rowdy and loud. If you push too hard, yell too much, or ride too aggressively, the cattle scatter, the job takes twice as long, and your horse ends up worn out and frustrated. But if you stay calm, speak softly, and give the herd time to respond, the whole process flows smoothly. That’s humility on horseback, strength under control. It’s not about showing off who’s boss; it’s about working with the animals, the horse, and your team to get where you’re all going together.
That same principle applies to people. We can either push, rush, and judge, wearing everyone out, or we can slow down, be curious, and work with gentleness. Humility is the soft hand on the reins that helps us stay united instead of splintered.
I’m not writing this as someone who’s figured it out. Honestly, I catch myself reacting instead of pausing all the time. But lately God’s been nudging me to slow down and ask questions before I speak. The times I actually remember to do it, the whole atmosphere shifts, the tension drops, and I can see the other person as God sees them.
Living Humility in Real Life
And the surprise is that humility changes us too. It softens our hearts, keeps us teachable, and reminds us who we are in Christ. Here are a few simple ways to practice it this week: pause before reacting and pray first, get curious instead of critical, remember every person you meet is loved by God, and serve quietly in ways no one notices. Humility grows in those small choices.
When believers live with humility, we send a powerful message. In a world obsessed with being right, humility stands out. It points people back to Jesus, the One who humbled Himself first. Unity through humility isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. It’s how the early church thrived. It’s how families heal. It’s how communities grow stronger.
So this week, let’s saddle up with humility. Let’s listen more than we speak, give grace more than we judge, and make room for God to work in and through us. Together, we can live out the calling Paul describes, not perfectly, but faithfully, and watch humility grow into unity in our homes, our churches, and our world.
Lord, keep shaping my heart through Your grace. Teach me to walk in humility, love others, and grow closer to the holiness You call me to, one patient, gentle choice at a time. Help me see people through Your eyes, listen before I speak, and give grace when I’m tempted to judge. I’m asking You to grow this in me, Amen.
Maybe you’ll join me in this prayer. Imagine how different our relationships could look if we all chose this together!
If you would like to listen to this blog post, consider following our podcast show, Conversations in the Barn. https://shows.acast.com/conversations-in-the-barn/episodes/unity-through-humilty
Out here in the Black Hills, ranch work teaches you a lot about humility. A few summers back, I watched two seasoned cowboys work a young horse together. One held the lead rope, the other spoke softly, guiding the horse through the first steps of training. No yelling, no forcing. Just steady hands and quiet confidence.
It struck me how much strength they had and how much restraint. They weren’t trying to prove who was in charge. They were working in unison for the good of the horse. It was humility in action: strength under control. And it was the only reason that moment worked.
That’s the picture Paul gives us in Ephesians 4:1–2: “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” If we want unity, in our churches, our families, and our communities, it’s going to grow in the soil of humility.
Humility doesn’t mean weakness. It’s not pretending you don’t have skills or opinions. It’s knowing your strength and choosing to use it gently. Think of that young horse, powerful but learning to respond to a soft touch. That’s humility. Jesus modeled this perfectly. He washed His disciples’ dusty feet. He ate with people others rejected. He chose a cross over a crown. Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less.
Unity doesn’t just happen. It’s built one humble choice at a time. When we’re humble, we listen before we speak, ask questions instead of assuming, and give grace for someone’s rough edges. Paul says we’re to “make allowances for each other’s faults.” That doesn’t mean excusing sin; it means remembering we’re all a work in progress. It’s the difference between saying, “Why can’t they get it together?” and asking, “How can I love them while they grow?”
I think about this when I watch my husband move cattle. Out here, you learn real quick that slower and calmer is better than rowdy and loud. If you push too hard, yell too much, or ride too aggressively, the cattle scatter, the job takes twice as long, and your horse ends up worn out and frustrated. But if you stay calm, speak softly, and give the herd time to respond, the whole process flows smoothly. That’s humility on horseback, strength under control. It’s not about showing off who’s boss; it’s about working with the animals, the horse, and your team to get where you’re all going together.
That same principle applies to people. We can either push, rush, and judge, wearing everyone out, or we can slow down, be curious, and work with gentleness. Humility is the soft hand on the reins that helps us stay united instead of splintered.
I’m not writing this as someone who’s figured it out. Honestly, I catch myself reacting instead of pausing all the time. But lately God’s been nudging me to slow down and ask questions before I speak. The times I actually remember to do it, the whole atmosphere shifts, the tension drops, and I can see the other person as God sees them.
Living Humility in Real Life
And the surprise is that humility changes us too. It softens our hearts, keeps us teachable, and reminds us who we are in Christ. Here are a few simple ways to practice it this week: pause before reacting and pray first, get curious instead of critical, remember every person you meet is loved by God, and serve quietly in ways no one notices. Humility grows in those small choices.
When believers live with humility, we send a powerful message. In a world obsessed with being right, humility stands out. It points people back to Jesus, the One who humbled Himself first. Unity through humility isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. It’s how the early church thrived. It’s how families heal. It’s how communities grow stronger.
So this week, let’s saddle up with humility. Let’s listen more than we speak, give grace more than we judge, and make room for God to work in and through us. Together, we can live out the calling Paul describes, not perfectly, but faithfully, and watch humility grow into unity in our homes, our churches, and our world.
Lord, keep shaping my heart through Your grace. Teach me to walk in humility, love others, and grow closer to the holiness You call me to, one patient, gentle choice at a time. Help me see people through Your eyes, listen before I speak, and give grace when I’m tempted to judge. I’m asking You to grow this in me, Amen.
Maybe you’ll join me in this prayer. Imagine how different our relationships could look if we all chose this together!
If you would like to listen to this blog post, consider following our podcast show, Conversations in the Barn. https://shows.acast.com/conversations-in-the-barn/episodes/unity-through-humilty
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