I’m guessing it was the years I spent as a cop that formed my understanding of what I am about to write. I’ve seen false bravado and what I would call a “smart-ass” response to life. It didn’t work on the streets. Those responses were not offered from a place of real strength and wisdom. They came from fearful people who were not emotionally developed enough to keep their mouths shut. Some of those people would get beaten up, some were arrested, and in a few sad cases, some created the scenario that caused the end of their lives.

I responded to numerous calls when someone got clocked because they were running their mouth off after a few too many drinks and paid the price. I’ve met Rambo wannabes who spouted off how they could address any threat while wearing military fatigues and polishing their favorite weapon letting people know they would single-handedly take on an invading army of Zombies when the time comes. Later when I became a pastor, I saw religious smartasses who were leaders in the Church and spoke in spiritually cocky tones until they had to face a real demon or experienced personal failure.

Untested bravado and a resulting smart-ass attitude only last as long as personal illusions remain unchallenged. Running our mouths off doesn’t work for long in the real world when real threats appear and challenge our misguided self-assurance. It also doesn’t work in spiritual warfare.

Scripture addresses what happens when that kind of attitude rules our response to life. “First pride, then the crash— the bigger the ego, the harder the fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

One of the most painful expressions of pride before a fall was Peter’s denial of Jesus. Peter exuded undisciplined self-confidence. Upon hearing the Lord tell the disciples they would all desert Him, ^“Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you. Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me’” (Matthew 26: 33-34). When the third denial took place Peter “went away, weeping bitterly” (vs 75). After feeling like he had messed up so badly that it was all over, the Lord restored a broken man who, in the power of humility, went on to write some of the most important epistles in the New Testament. 

Real courage is expressed when we come to the end of self-confidence and all its posturing, then in an act of humility, call out to God for help. That place of humility is where the most powerful things in God’s Kingdom take place.