Pride Doesn’t Always Look Like You Think

It’s easy to assume pride only looks like arrogance—the loud, boastful kind. But pride can just as easily hide behind a whisper. It can look like shame, self-loathing, or even humility. That’s something brothers Whit and Gabe came to realize in very different ways.

Growing Up Knowing All the Right Things

They grew up knowing all the right things. Church wasn’t just a Sunday stop—it was woven into the fabric of their lives. But even that can be dangerous. As Whit put it, “I got saved at five—not because I was broken, but because I was supposed to.” His life was full of knowledge about God. But years later, he looked back and realized something was missing.

There was no fruit. No transformation. Just leaves.

“I was religiously proud and a really awful person at the same time,” he admitted. “I thought I was good because I knew what was good. But I was a Pharisee—harsh, judgmental, blind.”

When Shame Becomes a False Savior

Gabe’s path was different, but just as deceptive. Where Whit leaned into pride, Gabe leaned into shame. His inner dialogue wasn’t “I’ve got this”—it was “I’m too far gone.”

But both were rooted in the same lie: that you can manage your standing with God on your own.

God eventually confronted them both. Whit had to see that his religious framework was built on sand. Gabe heard the Holy Spirit say, “You’re like Cain.” Angry. Isolated. Defensive toward the very God who was inviting him in.

It was a divine exposure—not to shame them, but to save them.

Pride in All Its Forms Keeps Us from Grace

That’s the thing about spiritual pride. Whether it shouts or whispers, it separates us from grace.

Peter’s Wake-Up Call

Peter learned this too. We often talk about his denial like it was an act of cowardice. But Peter wasn’t weak. He was strong-willed, brave, fiercely loyal. The problem wasn’t his lack of love—it was his unawareness of what was beneath the surface.

He didn’t yet know how much he depended on his own strength. He didn’t realize that real faith would require him to die—not just for Jesus, but to himself.

Jesus didn’t need Peter to defend Him. He needed Peter to follow Him. And that meant letting Jesus expose what was in his heart—not to condemn him, but to transform him.

The Same Invitation Is Extended to Us

It’s the same for us.

Some of us come to God with an inflated view of ourselves—others with a deflated one. But both are centered on self. And neither will carry you through the narrow gate.

Jesus says in John 15 that every branch in Him that doesn’t bear fruit will be cut off. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s dependency.

Are we abiding in Him? Are we allowing His Spirit to shape us from the inside out? Do we see love, joy, peace, patience, and gentleness growing in us—or just a façade?

When the Foundation Crumbles

The danger of spiritual life without true transformation is that you can think you’re standing on a solid foundation, when in reality, it’s crumbling. And sometimes, it has to collapse before we realize our need for something deeper.

A Better Question: “Is It Me?”

At the Last Supper, when Jesus told His disciples that one of them would betray Him, they didn’t point fingers. They didn’t say, “It’s probably Judas.” They asked, “Is it me?” That’s the heart posture of someone who knows how deceptive their own heart can be.

“Lord, open my eyes” is a terrifying prayer—but it’s the only way to real life. Because when you truly see yourself, you also start to see Him more clearly. His holiness. His mercy. His patience. His invitation to surrender, not perform.

The Beauty of Being Fully Known and Still Chosen

Peter’s denial wasn’t the end of his story. It was the beginning of his awakening. He was broken—but he was loved. Exposed—but still chosen. Humbled—but given a mission.

It’s terrible and wonderful at the same time.

That’s what happens when we meet the real Jesus. He doesn’t just save us—He remakes us. But only if we’re willing to let Him show us who we really are.

So maybe the most courageous question we can ask today is the same one the disciples asked:

“Is it me?”

Because when we ask that honestly, we position ourselves for the kind of grace that doesn’t just forgive—it transforms.

Show Notes:

Listen to the Message:  What Storms Reveal About Your Foundation 

In this episode, Whit mentions the book East of Eden by John Steinbeck