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The Humility of God and the Untangling of Pride
(Why Christmas Heals What Hustle Culture Breaks)
Jerome Chandler
December 24, 2025
In partnership with
The Humility of God and the Untangling of Pride
(Why Christmas Heals What Hustle Culture Breaks)
The world teaches us to build ourselves up. To stand out. To prove value through performance. The Cult of Hustle treats visibility as virtue and speed as strength.
Christmas tells a different story.
God did not arrive elevated.
He arrived low.
This truth became personal for me a few years ago while serving as a supervisor in a department. I sat in a difficult middle space. Some above me questioned whether I deserved the position. Some below me resisted my leadership for their own reasons. The pressure to prove myself was constant.
That pressure did not make me better. It made me anxious. It tightened my body. It drove me to overwork. Pride was not loud or arrogant. It was defensive. I was longing for one thing I did not have. Freedom from having to prove myself.
Scripture reveals the shock of divine humility
Philippians 2:7
“He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in human likeness.”
God did not grasp for status. He released it. He entered the world without applause, advantage, or control.
This was not weakness. It was healing humility.
Christ shows us that worth does not come from position. It comes from love.
The saints saw humility as freedom
St. Isaac the Syrian taught that humility quiets the inner storm. Pride keeps the soul restless because it is always defending itself. Humility releases that burden.
For the saints, humility was not self hatred. It was truth. Seeing oneself clearly, without inflation and without collapse.
In that leadership season, living my faith quietly taught me something lasting. I did not need to mirror how I was treated. I could choose a different posture. I could lead without crushing. I could carry authority without hardness.
God’s humility began to untangle the knot pride had tied in my heart.
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Science confirms humility settles the nervous system
Modern social science shows that humility is linked to lower stress and stronger connection.
Research finds that humble people experience less anxiety, greater emotional stability, and faster recovery from stress. When the need to perform or defend decreases, the nervous system settles.
Humility signals safety to the body.
A simple Christmas practice of humility
Begin the day by acknowledging one limit you will respect.
Do one task without seeking recognition.
Pray quietly, “Lord, teach me Your way of humility.”
These small acts loosen pride’s grip and invite peace.
Why this matters now
The Cult of Hustle teaches that worth must be earned and defended. Christmas reveals a God who gives worth before we act.
Humble love is not impressed by performance.
It is present.
It is near.
It heals.
At Christmas, God shows us that the path to peace is not climbing higher. It is learning how to come down and rest in truth.
