Challenges to Obedience: Pride and Self-Will

“The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.” Romans 8:7 (NIV)

I spent several days discussing the benefits of obedience. Which leads to the question, if obedience is so beneficial, why do we disobey? The answer is not that simple. People disobey for a variety of reasons. Among those reasons are Pride and Self-will.

Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit that brought death into the world and separation from God because of pride and self-will. Despite the warning from their creator not to eat the forbidden fruit, they listened to the serpent, who appealed to their sinful pride and told them that eating the fruit would not kill them but make them “like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4-5).

Obedience is challenging when we want control, independence, or our own way. When our pride clouds our judgment and our self-will conflicts with God’s will, we struggle to obey. This is why Jesus’ statement in the garden of Gethsemane is so powerful and liberating: “Not my will, but let your will be done” (Luke 22:42).

Pride and self-will are like gripping the steering wheel so tightly that you refuse to let God direct the route. Even when the signs are clear, you keep turning the way you want because you believe you know better. But obedience begins the moment you loosen your grip, surrender control, and trust that God’s direction is safer than your own.

Scripture warns that pride sets us up for a fall (Proverbs 16:18). Pride pushes back against God, delays repentance, and finds reasons to justify disobedience. Over time, it does more than lead to poor choices; it makes the heart harder to correct. Pride is especially dangerous because it can look like confidence or strength while slowly distancing us from God’s guidance.

Romans 8:7 makes it clear that the flesh resists God’s authority and does not naturally submit to His ways. Self-will leans toward control and comfort instead of surrender and conviction, which is why obedience can feel like a real struggle. Pride wants to stay in charge, but obedience yields leadership to God and chooses His wisdom over our own.

The breakthrough is humility. Obedience becomes possible when we stop defending ourselves and start surrendering ourselves. God is not asking us to be perfect before we obey; He is asking us to be humble enough to follow. When pride is laid down, peace returns. When self-will is crucified, freedom follows. Obedience is not the loss of identity—it is the recovery of right order, where God leads, and we follow.

Question Reflection:

Where is pride making it hard for you to simply obey what God has already said?

Prayer: Father, please teach me how to surrender to your will so as not allow pride and self-will to get in the way of a healthy relationship with you.