It means for us that God doesn't want us to be humiliated. It means that God does not want us to lay aside our rights and privileges. It means God wants us to defend ourselves, contend for ourselves and to come out on top.

As I have studied the scriptures, I have not found a reference. I am sure it must be in the same place as, "God only helps those who help themselves." Actually, what the Lord has shown me is that this is contrary to the word of God. 1 Peter 5:6   "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you at the proper time."

The Greek word for humble is tapeioo which means to depress, to humiliate (in condition or heart) and the word exalt is hupsoo which means to elevate. So the verse reads - Humiliate yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may elevate you at the proper time.

Matt 23:12 "And whoever exalts (hupsoo) himself shall be humbled (tapeioo); and whoever humbles (tapeioo) himself shall be exalted (hupsoo).

Christ demonstrated this very attitude Himself . In Phil 2:5-11, Paul exhorts us to have the mind of Christ.

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant,
and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled (tapeioo) Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore also God highly exalted (huperusoo to elevate above others, to raise to the highest position) Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The phrase, "but emptied Himself" is better translated "laid aside His privileges". Jesus laid aside all the rights and privileges of His deity and took on a body of flesh. Then He humiliated Himself by becoming
obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Christ demonstrates for us that the path of exaltation is humiliation!!!   "God does not want Christians to be a doormat" is a world view. And as always, the world view is contrary to the truth. God calls us to not be of
this world and to crucify our flesh.

How do we do this? Grace is the answer. In James 4:6 it says " But He (Christ) gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." The choice is ours, we can either exalt ourselves and have God as our opponent and then be humbled by God or we can humble ourselves and God will give us the grace we need to patiently endure. Either way we will be humbled before the Lord. Which way will you choose? Are you going to trust God or are you going to trust yourself?

Prov 22:4 says "The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, honor and life."    Stand on Gods word and humble yourself.

"For thus says the high and exalted One