God Still SpeaksSample

When Praise Turns to Pride

Miriam’s story begins with courage. As a young girl, she stood watch over her baby brother Moses, risking her life to speak up to Pharaoh’s daughter. Later, she would become Israel’s first named prophetess, leading the women of God in praise after they crossed the Red Sea. Her legacy as a leader was undeniable. She heard from God. She used her voice. She worshiped with expectation.

But even someone as bold and faithful as Miriam wasn’t immune to pride.

A year after worship that echoed throughout the wilderness, Miriam let her heart grow bitter. Instead of praising God for what He was doing through Moses, she questioned his leadership. She compared and complained, and gossiped.

God heard her.

As much as He heard her throughout her days of leading, He heard her in her sin. And in His justice, He responded. He disciplined Miriam by removing her from the community that she was called to help lead. What started as a private frustration ended with public consequence, and the entire nation had to wait for her restoration before they could move forward.

There’s a sobering lesson in Miriam’s story: spiritual leadership doesn’t make us immune to spiritual danger. In fact, the more God uses us, the more diligent we must be in guarding our hearts against pride. It’s easy to start thinking, If it weren’t for me… instead of If it weren’t for God…

Pride is subtle. It often starts with comparison. It may start with simply wondering why someone else gets more recognition, a bigger platform, or more opportunities. But left unchecked, comparison grows into resentment. And eventually, it spills out of our mouths in ways that can damage our witness, divide our communities, and disrupt God’s plan.

The good news? God is gracious.

Even in discipline, God allowed Miriam to be restored. She didn’t lose her calling. But she did lose time with those she was called to serve. There was a consequence to her sin. There is always a consequence to our sin.

Perhaps you have found yourself in that space, dealing with broken relationships or lost time because of how pride has snuck into your heart. Friend, be encouraged because, like Miriam, we too can be restored. It starts with coming to God with humility of heart, confession of our pride, and returning to a posture of worship.

Your voice matters. But your heart matters more. If we want to hear God’s voice clearly and be trusted with His message, we must guard against the pride that can so easily infect our leadership.

Today, let Miriam’s story be a mirror. Where is your heart? Are you quick to praise—or quick to compare? Have you let pride, jealousy, or criticism take root?

God is still inviting you to be part of what He’s doing. But He wants your whole heart—humble, honest, and ready to worship.

Prayer:

Father, I want to be someone You can trust. Search my heart and show me any places where pride, jealousy, or insecurity have taken root. I lay them at Your feet today. Forgive me for the moments I’ve compared myself to others or tried to build a platform instead of lifting up Your name. Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me. Help me to guard my heart so that I can hear Your voice clearly and reflect Your character in all I do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.