Stealing God's Credit

Written by Judiht Hilares

We live in a culture full of stimuli. Everything is fast, loud, and instant. But the soul doesn’t always heal at that speed.

I remember once having the opportunity to serve for more than a year in an organization as a volunteer. I was so excited, and I thought it would be a time full of encouragement, support, and words of life. But instead, I received more criticism than hugs, more judgment than mercy.

Up until that moment, I lived in a bubble of good intentions. I believed that if I did things with a sincere heart, people would respond with love. But when I started to feel that sense of injustice, that unfair treatment I hadn’t sought or deserved, something inside me began to close. I became more cautious. Quieter. I stopped trusting easily. I stopped making friends. I told myself, “It’s fine, I’m okay.” But something was happening.

That reminds me of the caterpillar.

From the outside, when the caterpillar enters its cocoon, it looks like “nothing is happening.” It looks still. Silent. Motionless. But inside, a radical transformation is taking place. The caterpillar literally dissolves it becomes almost liquid. It’s struggling. It’s changing shape. It’s being prepared for what’s coming.

And something both beautiful and hard: when the time comes to leave the cocoon, the butterfly has to fight to open it. Every push, every effort, every trembling of its wings matters. That struggle strengthens the wings so that it can fly later.

If someone tries to “help” by opening the cocoon early, it may seem compassionate… but it actually harms the butterfly. Because without that resistance, the wings don’t develop. It comes out, but it’s not ready to fly.

That’s how God’s process works in us.

Sometimes we think, “This is unfair. I didn’t deserve this.” And maybe you’re right. Sometimes it is unfair. Sometimes it is painful. Sometimes it is cruel. But even there, God is working in the secret place.

Philippians 1:6 says, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” That means: if God started something in you, He won’t leave it halfway. He won’t give up on you. He won’t let you go in the middle of the process.

The problem is that we often want to come out early and in our own way.

We rush. We want fast results. We want to arrive now. Sometimes we just want to “challenge ourselves.” Everything depends on the disposition of your heart when you begin, because that will guide how you finish. In my case, God gave me the strength to stay silent, but it was time to come out, and I didn’t do it soon enough. Maybe that’s why it took me longer to heal.

This is one of the reasons why, even as part of a Christian community, I don’t want to stay silent. Because simply asking someone, “How are you? How do you feel today?” or sharing a mate or a coffee can be the beginning of a great conversation and a way of healing ourselves.

Maybe right now you’re fighting your own battles and haven’t realized where your heart truly stands in all this. Maybe you’ve looked with judgment, when deep down you were just seeking recognition the platform, the spotlight, the “look at me.” Like an athlete who jumps the gun before the start and gets disqualified, or like me you thought, “I can do it. Help me, Lord,” but you didn’t let yourself be heard because constant criticism made you believe no one has the time or the desire to listen, but remember only God is able to deal with our flesh Ephesians 4:2.

We think, “I’m ready,” and God in His love says, “Not yet.” Not because you’re not valuable, but because He’s strengthening your wings. This battle was never yours, it’s God’s. When you give it fully to Him, you’re saying that He alone deserves the glory.

In difficulty, character is tested.

And here comes a deeper question: Why do we do what we do? Do we serve to love… or do we serve to be seen? Do we do good because we love God… or because we want a medal, applause, or a “you’re amazing”?

If my heart seeks the credit, I’m already standing in the wrong place.

Pride always wants to say: “It was me. It was my skill. My talent.” Pride wants to steal God’s credit. But the enemy is a liar. He’ll always tempt you with that voice: “You don’t need anyone. Look at you. You did it all by yourself.” And that voice, which sounds like praise, is actually pulling you away from the Father.

I think of the prodigal son in Luke 15:17-24. He left with pride, thinking he knew it all. But he came back humble, recognizing his need. He left proud. He returned broken. And he was received with love.

Humility is beautiful.

Sometimes those wounds are blows to the ego, chiseling, shaping our hearts in a way so hard and almost unbearable. But God says we can be angry and yet not sin. It’s human to judge those who’ve hurt us, even those who cause great harm. But, my friend, God asks us for the opposite, and that’s not human. God is just, and no one escapes His justice, just like the law of sowing and reaping.

Humility isn’t thinking, “I’m worth nothing.” Humility is recognizing: “My life, my strength, my opportunities, my process… come from God.”John 16:33.

Humble yourself under the hand of God, and in His time not yours, His perfect time He will lift you up. John 10:10 + John 16:33.

Don’t get tired of doing good, even if no one applauds, even if no one understands. Even if it feels like “nothing is happening.” Because something is happening.

You’re in the cocoon.

And what hurts today, what feels unfair, what makes you say, “Why did they treat me like that? Why is this happening to me?” that very thing, God is using to form in you something that cannot be easily broken.

The enemy wants to destroy you, but you’re not alone. If your motives are right, God will be on your side. And even if they’re not, if you ask for His help, He will guide you. But it all begins with a humble heart, fully surrendered to Him.

Don’t rush ahead. Don’t give up. Don’t trade your meekness to defend your name. God sees. God knows. God arrives right on time.

And when that time comes, your wings will be ready to fly.