Between Tigger and Eeyore

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." 1 Peter 5:6 NIV

When the boys were little, we read to them each evening. Of all the books they enjoyed, their favorites were the stories by A. A. Milne about Winnie-the-Pooh. Two characters always stood out to me: Tigger and Eeyore. Tigger was the picture of self-confidence and swagger, bouncing into every situation with unbridled enthusiasm (and a bit of ego). Eeyore, by contrast, trudged along with drooping head and gloomy mutterings. And yet, he was persistent. He might have taken longer and needed a few tries, but he always managed to get the job done.

Today's verse encourages us to humble ourselves before God. This kind of humility recognizes that God holds our place in His kingdom and invites us to trust His leading. In some surprising ways, the lessons of Tigger and Eeyore point us toward this humility. From Tigger, we learn to approach God’s calling with joyful courage, because God doesn’t call us to fail. From Eeyore, we learn the value of perseverance. Humility doesn’t mean passive resignation; it’s the quiet strength to keep moving forward, trusting the One who leads.

However, unlike Eeyore, God doesn’t want us to live bowed under the weight of gloom. Nor does He call us to the kind of performative piety that Jesus warned against in Matthew 6:2. True humility isn’t for show—it’s the inward posture of a heart surrendered to grace.

In the Wesleyan tradition, humility stems from the recognition that every good gift comes from God’s hand, not from our striving. To humble ourselves is not to diminish our worth, but to receive God's love freely and to walk in joyful obedience. It's in that humble space that sanctifying grace goes to work—molding us, lifting us, perfecting us in love.

I invite you into a quiet moment of reflection, asking yourself:

What is God asking me to do today?

Where might He be inviting me to step forward with courage, or let go with trust?

In what part of my life do I need to humble myself under His hand?

What’s holding me back?

Gracious God, thank you for the gift of humility, not as a burden, but as the doorway to joy and transformation. Shape in us the courage of Tigger, the perseverance of Eeyore, and the spirit of Christ who humbled Himself in love. Teach us to trust your timing, to embrace your calling with confidence, and to serve not for show, but from a heart formed by your grace. Mold us into the image of your Son, that we may walk in your will and be lifted up in due time. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Tim