“Walk in gentleness” is something I heard the Lord say very clearly in my second month in Nepal, when I was struggling with my community, with ministry, with the idea that the race was something really hard that I wanted to end. I didn’t pursue those words any farther than looking up a couple references to do with gentleness:
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Philippians 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
But I didn’t really see anything obvious so i kind of just let it drop.
My focus in studying these last few months has been focused on what God says about women in the new testament, all those verses about women somehow being ‘less than’ men. //I hope to write a blog about all I’ve learned sometime in the near future. In the meantime, if you want to talk about it or share the insights you have personally gathered, feel free to reach out!!// As I was studying this morning I came across 1 Peter 3:4 which says, “Rather, it [your beauty] should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” which brought up the whole walk in gentleness thing again. So I looked up the dictionary explanation of gentleness.
“The quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered.” ??Heres the thing. I have this huge, try-not-to-let-it-be-consuming fear of being weak. Of being dependant. It’s messed with my head a lot in the past few years. And the word ‘gentleness’ kind of sounds synonymous with weakness. So why would I want to walk in weakness? I think maybe thats why I didn’t pursue the thought before. Because I couldn’t comprehend God calling me to walk in weakness when so much of this Race has been about him calling me to walk in my identity in him. But think about this picture. If I’m holding a cute little Filipino baby, I have to be gentle. I have to be careful not to hold too tight. To support her little head. to keep the sun out of her eyes. Does she have to be careful of anything? Nope! She doesn’t have the power to hurt me. So gentleness is more an idea of strength limiting itself in order to protect and care for someone, rather than an expression of weakness that doesn’t hold the power to hurt someone. Does that make walking in gentleness any easier? Not really. But it does make it more appealing knowing that gentleness isn’t an expression of weakness. And that its such an important thing to God for us to walk in that strength that he’s given us that he says it again and again through scriptures.
Also, have you ever read Isaiah 42? I’m putting the text of verses 1-4 here so that you have no excuse but to read it. (This is God talking about Jesus)?
Behold my servant, who I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. Isaiah 42:1-4 ESV
Look how it talks about the gentleness of Jesus; it says he’s not the kind of person to break something thats already bruised. He wouldn’t blow out a candle thats struggling to stay lit. And no one in their right mind would ever call Jesus weak. Not the lion of Judah. Not the conquering King.
Gentleness isn’t weakness. Who knows. Maybe you knew all this already. But I didn’t! And all I can do is share what Jesus has been gently walking me through!
Guess what!! Less than a month until the Race is officially ended!!! Oh my gosh, its been the longest and the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But so sweet and full of growth. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’ll see you all soon!
