How to Humbly Ask God to Remove Our Shortcomings

Have you ever tried to tell someone you're humble? It's a bit like trying to convince someone you're funny - the moment you have to explain it, you've probably missed the mark. True humility isn't something we announce; it's something we demonstrate through our actions and attitudes.

In our spiritual journey, there comes a crucial moment when we must learn to humbly ask God to remove our shortcomings. This isn't just about admitting we have flaws - it's about surrendering control and allowing God to work in areas where our willpower simply isn't enough.

What Does True Humility Look Like?

Rather than defining humility with words, Jesus showed us what it looks like through one of the most powerful demonstrations in Scripture. In John 13, we find Jesus in the upper room with his disciples on the night before his crucifixion.

The scene is striking: it's Passover, and Jesus knows his time has come. He's aware that Judas will betray him within hours. Yet in this moment of ultimate tension, Jesus does something completely unexpected.

Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet

Jesus got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and began washing his disciples' feet. This wasn't just an act of service - it was revolutionary. Foot washing was the job of the lowest servant, something so menial that even the disciples wouldn't do it for each other.

But Jesus, their teacher and Lord, knelt down and washed their dirty feet. He didn't announce his humility; he demonstrated it. Even more remarkably, he washed the feet of Judas, knowing full well what was coming.

Peter's Struggle with Receiving Grace

When Jesus came to Peter, the disciple protested: "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Peter's pride kicked in. He couldn't accept this reversal of roles, this demonstration of grace he felt he didn't deserve.

Jesus responded with words that cut to the heart of spiritual transformation: "Unless I wash you, you won't belong to me." Peter had to choose between his pride and his relationship with Jesus. He had to let Jesus serve him, even when it felt uncomfortable and wrong.

Why Can't We Change Ourselves?

This story illustrates a fundamental truth about spiritual growth: we cannot transform ourselves through willpower alone. Just as Peter couldn't wash his own feet while sitting at the table, we cannot remove our own shortcomings through sheer determination.

The Process of Sanctification

The theological term for this ongoing transformation is sanctification - the process by which God makes us holy, setting us apart so there's less of us and more of Him reflected in our lives. This isn't a one-time event but a lifelong journey of becoming more like Christ.

Paul addresses this in Romans 6, explaining that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We're no longer slaves to sin, but this freedom requires our cooperation with God's transforming work.

How Does God Use Our Circumstances?

Here's a crucial insight from John Ortberg: we often wwant to use God to change our circumstances, while God wants to use our circimstances to change us. We pray for our problems to go away, but God wants to use our problems to make our character defects go away.

Practical Examples of God's Training Ground

If you struggle with impatience, God might send you people who test that patience. If you're too timid about sharing your faith, you'll likely get opportunities to speak up. If you tend toward dishonesty, situations will arise where you must choose between the easy lie and the difficult truth.

This isn't God being cruel - it's God being loving. He knows that real change happens through practice, through facing our weaknesses in real-world situations where we must choose to rely on His strength rather than our own.

What Does It Mean to Ask Humbly?

Asking humbly means being specific and honest about our shortcomings. Instead of praying, "Lord, help me be more generous" (which implies we're already pretty generous), we might pray, "Lord, I'm a cheapskate who doesn't like giving money away, even though You've bellesed me with enough. Change my heart."

The Difference Between General and Specific Prayers

General prayers often mask our pride. When we ask for "more patence," we're suggesting we already have some. Humble prayers acknowledge the depth of our need: "Lord, when people ask me questions, it drives me nuts and I respond snippily. Show me how to respond in love."

What Should We Expect When We Pray This Way?

Two important warnings come with this step: the process won't be quick, and it won't be easy. Real transformation takes time. God needs time to change patterns in our lives, to let His word impact us, and to reshape what we believe to be true.

God's Timing vs. Our Expectations

While God can choose to fix things quickly - He has that power - more often the journey itself is part of the process. Just like Olympic athletes don't wake up one day and perform perfectly, spiritual growth requires consistent practice, sacrifice, and gradual improvement.

When we truly ask God to work on our shortcomings, we should expect opportunities to practice new behaviors. If we've asked for generosity, giving opportunities will arise. If we've asked for patience, patience-testing situations will come our way.

The Serenity Prayer and Surrender

The famous Serenity Prayer captures this beautifully: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

We cannot change our shortcomings on our own, but we can have the courage to invite God into the process. We can say, "God, I can't change this thing about myself. I've got this challenge, this issue, this sin in my life. Would you wash my feet and start working on it?"

Moving from Waiting to Action

After weeks of taking inventory, confessing, and getting ready, it's time to give up control. It's time to show humility by accepting the gift that God has given us. We can't keep waiting for the perfect moment or the perfect level of readiness.

Like Peter, we must allow Jesus to wash our feet, even when it feels uncomfortable or wrong. We must let Him serve us in ways that challenge our pride and our desire for control.

Life Application

This week, identify one specific shortcoming in your life that you've been trying to change through willpower alone. Instead of asking God for "more" of a good quality, humbly acknowledge the depth of your need in that area. Be specific about how this shortcoming manifests in your daily life.

Set aside 10-15 minutes this week to write out a prayer to God about this area. Don't just think about it - write it down. Be honest about your inability to change this on your own, and specifically ask God to begin the work of transformation in your life.

Remember that when you make this request, God will likely provide opportunities for you to practice new behaviors. Don't be surprised when situations arise that test your commitment to change. These aren't setbacks - they're training opportunities orchestrated by a loving God who wants to see you grow.

Questions for Reflection:

• What specific shortcoming have you been trying to change through willpower alone?

• How might God want to use your current circumstances to work on this area of your life?

• What would it look like for you to "let Jesus wash your feet" in this particular struggle?

• Are you willing to give up control and allow God to work on His timeline rather than yours?

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