Swallow Your Pride
By Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church – Fisher, Arkansas
When Offenses, Silence, and Stubbornness Cost More Than We Ever Imagined
Blog Description: A powerful Christian blog based on KJV scriptures that exposes how pride destroys relationships, causes years of silence, and leads to lifelong regret. Learn why swallowing your pride is essential for forgiveness, healing, and obedience to God.
Introduction – The Silent Destroyer
Pride has silently destroyed more families, friendships, marriages, and Christian relationships than perhaps any other sin. It often begins with one sentence, one misunderstanding, one offence, or one emotional reaction. Words are spoken, feelings are hurt, and instead of humility stepping in, pride rises up and says:
“I’m done.”
“I won’t speak to them again.”
“They should apologize first.”
“I was right, they were wrong.”
Years go by. Birthdays pass. Holidays become empty. Families become divided. Brothers and sisters in Christ walk on opposite sides of the street. And all because nobody would swallow their pride.
The tragedy is this: Many never reconcile before death separates them forever.
What the Bible Says About Pride
The Word of God does not treat pride lightly. Scripture is clear: God hates pride, because it destroys everything it touches.
Proverbs 16:18 (KJV)
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
Pride always leads somewhere — and that place is destruction. It destroys communication, unity, trust, love, families, congregation, and peace. It builds walls of division instead of bridges that connect people.
Proverbs 13:10 (KJV)
“Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.”
Most arguments, grudges, and broken relationships have one root cause: pride. This word pride can be summed up in one letter word “i” that refuses to let things go and forgive.
Real Life: When One Sentence Ends a Relationship
Many relationships have been shattered by something that was said in anger, frustration, or misunderstandings. Words spoken in a moment can cause many years of silence until it is too late, and the person that God intended for you to love and forgive are gone forever because of one single “offense”.
Instead of humility saying, “Let’s talk,” pride says, “I’m done with you.”
Instead of forgiveness saying, “I love you more than being right,” pride says, “I deserve an apology.”
Instead of reconciliation saying, “We can work on fixing this,” pride says, “They don’t deserve me.”
Proverbs 18:19 (KJV)
“A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.”
Offense mixed with pride builds an emotional prisons. And once locked inside this spiritual “castle”, many never come out, and many leave this earth taking these emotional grudges with them.
Years Lost — Over Nothing Worth Losing Each Other
How many people today refuse to speak to family members, co-workers, neighbors because they refuse to forgive?
How many siblings have not spoken in ten, twenty, thirty wasted years?
How many friendships ended over something minor?
When asked why, many can barely remember what started it.
Pride keeps people silent, stubborn, and separated — while life continues passing by.
Ecclesiastes 7:8 (KJV)
“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”
Pride steals years that can never be recovered until one person decides they will make an attempt to reconcile and forgive even if they were right in the matter.
When Death Comes — And It’s Too Late
One of the greatest tragedies is when someone dies while hearts remain divided.
No final apology.
No final embrace.
No final “I forgive you.”
No final “I love you.”
Just regret.
James 4:14 (KJV)
“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
Life is short. Death is certain. Pride makes people act as if they have unlimited time — but tomorrow is never guaranteed to anyone.
Countless people live with lifelong pain because pride kept them from reconciling before the grave closed the door forever.
Jesus: The Greatest Example of Humility
If anyone had the right to hold offense, it was Jesus Christ. He was mocked, beaten, spit upon, falsely accused, and crucified — yet He forgave.
Luke 23:34 (KJV)
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
If the Son of God could forgive those who nailed Him to a cross, how can we justify refusing to forgive someone who may have offended us?
Philippians 2:5-8 (KJV)
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus… he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Can followers of Jesus have the right to hold unforgiveness toward anyone because of an offense or an unpaid debt we haven’t collected on? True Christianity is not about pride — it is about humility, forgiveness, reconciliation, and love.
God Commands Forgiveness
Forgiveness is not optional for believers — it is commanded. Forgiveness is a choice that one makes and if a person decides to hold unforgivness God will not forgive them their tresspasses (offenses) that they commit.
Matthew 6:14-15 (KJV)
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Refusing to forgive places our own forgiveness at risk.
Colossians 3:13 (KJV)
“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another… even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
Can you imagine anyone leaving this world one day and standing before the Lord holding resentment, bitterness, and unforgivness in their heart? What will pride and stubbornness be worth standing before God one day if we harbor bitterness or unforgiveness?
1 Peter 5:5
“…Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”
Being proud and holding unforgiveness is choice one makes, this choice will cost many their soul when they stand before the Lord. I am convinced that this will be the second most important reason why many will not enter into heaven when they stand before the Lord, the number one reason is because they reject the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and they refuse to do what Jesus taught in scripture. The Apostle Paul writing to the Thessalonian church said this:
2 Thessalonians 1: 7-8
“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:”
Them that know not God – (All who rejected Jesus as their Savior).
And those who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. – (Those who know the Lord but do not obey and follow the Lord and his teachings).
Jesus taught these sobering words, forgive or the Father will not forgive you.
Matthew 6:15 “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Luke 6:28 “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”
Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
Swallowing Your Pride Brings Freedom
Swallowing your pride does not mean you were wrong.
It does not mean you lost.
It does not mean you were weak.
It means you chose peace over pride, love over ego, and obedience over stubbornness.
Proverbs 15:1 (KJV)
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
One humble conversation can restore years of broken silence and disobedience in what Jesus taught all of us to do, bless and pray for them, forgive them, let it all go and come before the Lord in the light of the truth that Jesus taught about forgiveness.
It Is Not Worth It
At the end of life, no one says:
“I’m glad I held that grudge.”
But many say:
“I wish I had forgiven.”
“I wish I had reached out.”
“I wish I had swallowed my pride.”
Romans 12:18 (KJV)
“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
Pride is never worth broken relationships, lifelong regrets, emotional pain, and eternal consequences.
Final Call – Today Is the Day
If someone came to your mind while reading this, that is not an accident.
Make the call.
Send the message.
Write the letter.
Restore the relationship if it all possible.
2 Corinthians 6:2 (KJV)
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Yesterday is history, Today is a gift, and Tomorrow may never come. – FORGIVE.
Swallow your pride. Choose forgiveness. Choose love. Choose obedience. Choose Life. Choose Peace.
Because in the end, it is simply not worth losing people you love and not worth having unforgiveness when the Lord says to forgive.
One last thing we must all remember, Jesus said all have committed trespasses and errors in life, but we can make the choice to forgive. God forgives us as we forgive others.
Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
John 13:35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
Don’t delay, make the choice to forgive and love because this is how people will know that you are a true disciple of Jesus Christ the LORD our soon coming King!
PRAYER:
Father God I come before you today and ask you to clothe me with the humility of my Lord Jesus Christ. Forgive me of all my trespasses and of any unforgiveness or bitterness I may be holding in my heart toward any person. I choose to obey my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and ask that your Holy Spirit bring to my remembrance any person that I have not yet forgiven. I choose out of obedience to your word to now love, bless and pray for anyone that has ever trespassed against me, offended me, dissitefully used me, persecuted me, or cursed me. I ask you Father God to restore my life, my heart, and cleanse me of all unrighteousness, and remove any pride, stubbornness, or rebellion that I may have in my heart toward your word and toward anyone. I ask you Lord Jesus to renew the right spirit within me. This day I choose the life, joy, and peace you gave me through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I thank you and pray in the Holy name of Jesus. – Amen.
