The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. —Galatians 5:22–23
Gentleness (often translated “meekness”) is a mild, friendly, considerate disposition. It’s strength that accommodates to another person’s weaknesses. In 1 Thessalonians 2:7, gentleness is portrayed as the type of disposition a nursing mother has as she cares for her fussy child. Though the baby may cry, she remains gentle in her response.
Gentleness is the opposite of being rude, demanding one’s own way, and the “loud” attitude of the woman of Proverbs 7. Gentleness means we rely on God rather than our own strength to defend ourselves against difficulty or injustice. It stems from trust in God’s goodness and control over the situation. Gentleness isn’t self-abasement. It’s the mark of the wise person who remains calm even in the face of other people’s shortcomings.
Gentleness is “a tree of life” (Prov. 15:4). David noted that it was God’s gentleness toward him that “made him great” (2 Sam. 22:36–37 esv).
True gentleness has a powerful voice in our loud and pushy culture. How can you pursue it today?
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True Woman 101: Divine Design, An Eight-Week Study on Biblical Womanhood ©2012 Mary A. Kassian and Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Scripture taken from The CSB and The ESV
Make it Personal
When you encounter challenging situations, do you respond with gentleness or loudness? What do your responses reveal about your heart?