Pride, Patience, and His Pace
Outfit Details- Jeans Zara | Top H&M | Shoes, Bag, & Glasses Tory Burch
Hello Lovelies,
The Lord has me in Ecclesiastes in this season — just slowly walking through it — and I see why. The way it’s eating me up in the most holy way, correcting me so I don’t repeat my former life? Nothing but God’s kindness.
Right now, I’m in chapter 7, and verses 8 and 10 are really speaking to me.
"The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride." – Ecclesiastes 7:8 (NIV)
"Do not say, 'Why were the old days better than these?' For it is not wise to ask such questions." – Ecclesiastes 7:10 (NIV)
Verse 8 reminds me that pride makes us rush to prove ourselves, while patience allows God’s timing to unfold. And y’all know my story up to this point basically, but I haven’t shared too much yet about being on the other side of my obedience — my serious yes to a serious God.
IMMEDIATELY after May 31, when MissToo Made It: Greek Boutique officially closed, I hit the ground running for God Is So Kind & Co. — I mean running. Long to-do list every day. Running ads and becoming increasingly frustrated when I didn’t see results. Posting content and not getting much feedback (all while secretly comparing everything to MissToo Made It: Greek Boutique in the back of my head and expecting the same results).
I was like, “Lord, I’m doing this for the Kingdom. It worked in the world… why not now in Your hands?!”
I did that for about three weeks — until I went home to Charleston for a month and the Lord made it very clear:
"Who told you GISK was going to provide for you in this season? I am your Provider. No strategy or technique is going to outwork where I want you to be right now."
Whew.
He told me to rest. To sit with Him and ask Him to guide me in what’s next. I had just come out of six years of running a successful but hard-working business. He wasn’t calling me to repeat that grind — He was calling me to stillness.
So I sat my tail down in Charleston for a month, doing nothing with GISK unless He gave me a specific assignment for the day. And y’all, He wasn’t playing with me. I remember trying to launch a hat for GISK. I even posted the launch reel — and He said, “Aht, aht… I didn’t lead you to do that.” I removed the reel and sat down again.
Looking back, my actions were fueled by pride. Pride in wanting to prove to people — the ones who think I’m crazy, doing too much, or have whispered about my obedience — that I’m not who they say I am and that God’s way is truly the way to go.
Now, yes — those things are true. I’m not who they think I am, and His way is the only way. But the Lord had to teach me to live for His approval alone, not the applause of people (Galatians 1:10). To know my reward is in eternity (Matthew 6:19–21), not in man’s praise here on earth.
That pride was leftover from six years of hearing the world’s praises and seeing quick results. But God reminded me that while the world celebrates speed and performance, His Kingdom runs on trust and obedience.
Romans 8:28 reminds me:
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
Even the things He didn’t cause, He is causing to work for my good. Just because this new season doesn’t produce results like the old one doesn’t mean I’m doing it wrong — it just looks different.
Verse 10 also checked me:
"Do not say, 'Why were the old days better than these?' For it is not wise to ask such questions."
My “former days” were outside of obedience to the God I plan to spend eternity with. Revelation 19:14 says that when Christ returns, “The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed Him on white horses.” That’s the picture I hold in my heart — to ride out behind Him, wearing white, living for that eternal moment over any temporary applause.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 reminds me:
"What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun."
So why waste energy chasing the approval of man, when the only approval I need is from God?
Ecclesiastes 7:9 also reminds me not to be quick-tempered but to let God be completely God in my life — while I stay in my rightful place at His feet.
What This Looks Like Practically
Reading my Bible — not just skimming, but breaking down verses word-by-word. (Genesis 1:1 had me SHOOK: “In the beginning…” → “Beginning” means time itself began when God spoke it into existence. Before time, there was only God. He created everything — the sun, moon, stars, and every living thing. If He did all that, what can’t He do? And “God” here is Elohim in Hebrew — plural — pointing to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit even in the first verse of the Bible. He’s the original Creator. Period.)
Praying constantly — asking daily, “Lord, what do You want me to do today?” and doing exactly that.
Cutting distractions — little to no social media, fewer hangouts, and less casual conversation so my ears stay tuned to Him.
Meditating on His Word — day and night (Joshua 1:8).
Letting go of my plans — even when I think something is “good for the Kingdom,” if He hasn’t said move, I’m not moving.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, release me from having points to prove. Let my life reflect Your honor of my obedience — whether I see the reward here on earth or in eternity with You. May I live for You and You alone, not for the former applause I used to receive. Keep me in my Romans 12 life — a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You. Help me keep my eyes set on You in everything — from the smallest task to the biggest calling — may it all be for You.
Amen.
With Love,
Jadesha M. Hair