Religious Humility

And the hidden costs.

I have an interesting playlist. I could be all in my feelings listening to Giveon, then SZA comes in, and after that, Naomi Raine. While I am relishing the organised chaos of this set of jams, I am quickly plunged into even further delightful Afrobeats. And by the way, Fola is doing it for me right now. Lol.

R. A. Vernon’s ‘You Covered Me’ popped up on my playlist today, and I wanted to share a thought regarding it. The lyrics:

“I don’t want to sing latest song

I don’t want to percolate the crowd

I just want to make You smile

I don’t have to listen for my name

They don’t have to walk me down the aisle

I just want to make you proud

Should I make the hall of fame

Or they save a special seat

I just hope that You’ll be pleased”

On the surface, it sounds like the ultimate act of devotion. But if we look closer, there’s a subtle, heavy undertone of performance-based worthiness. It suggests that in order to please the Creator, we must essentially disappear.

Religion often teaches us to labour for approval. It suggests that God’s smile is a reward for our self-sacrifice. But the reality of a loving Divine is far simpler:

• God isn’t waiting for you to “earn” a smile from him. Good earthly parents don’t do that, how much more the Heaven Father. You aren’t a project to be finished. You are a masterpiece already on display.

• Your joy is not a distraction. Being walked down the aisle, hearing your name called for an award, or reaching the “Hall of Fame” doesn’t subtract from your spirituality. These are human celebrations of the life you were given to live fully.

• Existing is enough. You have divine acceptance by default. You don’t need to “percolate the crowd” to be seen, but you also don’t need to hide in the shadows to be holy.

“The glory of God is a human being fully alive.” — St. Irenaeus

True spirituality doesn’t rob you of your humanity; it illuminates it. You can be ambitious, you can enjoy the spotlight, and you can celebrate your milestones, all whilst being deeply connected to the Divine.

God is already proud of you. Not because of what you’ve sacrificed, but simply because you exist.

Some gentle reminders:

• Stop Auditioning: You already have the part. When you finally stop trying to prove you deserve to be here, you actually start living. You can breathe. You can create. You can mess up and realise the show still goes on because your acceptance wasn’t based on your performance, it was based on your existence.

• Take the Seat: If there’s a seat in the Hall of Fame with your name on it, sit in it. “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works...No one lights a candle and hide it under a bushel”. These are the direct words of Jesus. Taking that seat isn’t about ego; it’s about acknowledging the gifts and the journey you’ve been given. When you shrink yourself to make others comfortable, or because you think God prefers you small, you’re actually dimming a light that was meant to be seen. You aren’t showing off by being successful; you’re showing others what is possible when someone walks in their purpose.

• Listen for Your Name: My dear, it is okay to be celebrated. The Divine is likely in the front row, cheering the loudest. Seriously, start listening for your name. When someone says something nice about you or gives you a praise and your immediate response is “we give God praise” or “it is God o” you are only reinforcing the negative religious programming that seeks to diminish you. Stop it. God doesn’t have low self esteem such that he’s angry when you’re acknowledged. We spend so much time deflecting praise, almost like we’re afraid that if we accept a compliment or a trophy, we’re stealing glory from the Divine. If you were watching your own child win an award or walk down an aisle, you wouldn’t be sitting there thinking, “I hope they feel guilty about this.” You’d be the one making a scene in the front row, screaming their name and bursting with pride. Why do we think the Creator is any different?

Lastly my friend, always remember this, God is not mad at you. God is proud of you. He is pleased and, by default, constantly delighted by you. The Divine is already smiling.