How to Flourish Like a Green Leaf in Proverbs 11

Proverbs 16:18 reminds us, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Humility is a much better path to choose.

Especially when you’re facing loss.

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2

There is great wisdom in humility.

There are a host of questions that arise surrounding loss, but you have few answers. It’s difficult to make sense of it all.

Proverbs 11:12 offers additional counsel: “…a man of understanding remains silent.” Wisdom calls for silence, for humility. Ecclesiastes 5:2 says, “Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.”

Indeed, God is in heaven, and you are on earth. It is wise to be slow to speak. It is wise and humble to let your words be few. It’s better not to have God ask you what he asked Job: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?”

Loss represents a moment, among many, when it is especially wise to be humble. Loss is a time to pull back, welcome mercy, receive instruction, learn the lessons, and heal.

Resist pride, arrogance, and anger. Embrace humility, dependency, and recovery.

“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14

In keeping with the need for humility, loss is a time for an abundance of counselors. Loss is a time to listen to others. Receive the ministry of others into your journey. Refusing guidance leads to mishaps. Missteps.

I found the counsel of others vital. Some who offered counsel were professionals. They helped me look at the journey of grief. You do not enter grief. Grief enters you. Thus, you enter a new journey and there is much to know about the process. Professional counselors identified much of what lay before me. They identified warnings and cautions to alert me. Other counselors were brothers and sisters in Christ who listened and offered support.

In all of life, it is important to embrace community to give you context and strength for all you face. In loss, it is especially wise to seek the guidance of many counselors.

“The desire of the righteous ends only in good, the expectation of the wicked in wrath.” Proverbs 11:23

I choose good over wrath. Throughout my journey, I was reminded as I preached the gospel to myself that good was still my inheritance. Romans 8:28 is a favorite lifelong verse that provides stability and confidence. Paul says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” All things.

It is important to note that not all things are good, but all things work together for good. I have reflected on my journey to say that Jesus is so good and so powerful that he turns bad on its head and brings good. Again, all things.

“Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.” Proverbs 11:28

If you lean more into your own wealth than faith in the God who sustains you, you make a choice that leads to collapse. This is especially true when you face loss. If you trust your own strength and your own resources, you will stumble. Instead, stand firm and lean on the righteousness that is yours by faith—by a gift of grace—and you will flourish like a green leaf.

Choose humility. Choose wise counselors. Choose the good that comes from righteousness. Then, even in loss, you will flourish like a green leaf.