Did you come out smelling like a rose?

Or do you fall into the same trap I find myself in?  I so want to be the one who follows all of the traffic laws; the frugal one who uses coupons; the one who always gives credit where credit is due; the one who comes out smelling like the rose when times get tough as compared to those around me.  In our humanity this is impossible.  We have nothing to claim but our dependence on God's mercy. 
So, how in this world do we not become prideful yet maintain a daily confidence; confident yet humble?
That’s the goal, isn’t it? A holy tension. The struggle you and I face every day in ourselves; humble confidence.  Now there is an oxymoron.  How do we use every strength, talent, and ability for God''s glory and every weakness as an opportunity to demonstrate God's power.  The Pharisee in Luke's Gospel this week announced how "good" he was in his prayers, yet the tax collector announced his sinfulness and begs for mercy unable to even look up to heaven.  Which one comes out smelling like a rose?  Well, the tax collector of course, he is the one who went home justified.

 

We all want to be justified.  I marvel at the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who even thrown into the fiery furnace come out and "there was no smell of fire on them". (Dn. 3:27)  We all want to come through fiery trials smelling like a rose and not of smoke like others do.  We all want to be humble in our daily walk and  be exalted.  We all want to thank God that we are "not like other men" (Lk.18:11), but oh how we are!
When this happens and we forget, if only for a moment our human-constructed divisions, and stand before God aware only of our need, then we, too, are justified by the God of Jesus and invited to return to our homes in mercy, grace, and gratitude.