When God Says “Rest”
"“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” – Matthew 23:12"
For a long time, I thought humility meant trying harder — earning good grades, making my parents proud, and proving I could handle everything on my own. After finishing my general education at De Anza College, I felt affirmed in that mindset. I had a strong GPA, active involvement outside the classroom, and acceptance letters from eight universities. Choosing the University of California, Berkeley felt like the reward for all that effort.
Yet only two weeks into the semester, everything unraveled. After nearly being hit by a car, and a sudden mental health crisis, I had to take a medical leave. The life I had carefully planned paused without my permission. In that silence, I began to sense God inviting me not to push forward, but to slow down.
I realized how tightly I had been holding onto achievement and image. I wanted to be the “perfect daughter,” the successful student, the one who never fell behind. Letting go of that identity felt frightening at first. But over the next two years of healing, rest slowly became less like failure and more like trust. I began to see that humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but allowing God to lead — even when that means stopping.
Looking back, that season feels less like a detour and more like an invitation: to receive love rather than earn it, and to measure life not by accomplishments, but by closeness to God.
Where in your life might God be gently inviting you to slow down or release control?
Sue Do