“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:28-29, NIV
God’s love is gentle. In the first part of an online version of Psychology Today, they list numerous ways that gentleness shows itself—more than I would have ever thought of on my own. Take time to read the first part of the article for more thoughts, but I want to focus on the first one they give: “Gentleness is seen in the handling of adversity with a calm, even-handedness.” I believe that is the best example or description of God’s gentleness displayed for the world, especially in the Old Testament when He got exasperated with the Israelites more than once due to their lack of trust and their disobedience to Him.
When do you need gentleness? You might want to say all the time, but that wouldn’t be a true statement. There are times that gentleness might not be the best thing for us. When kids are in danger by running out into the path of a vehicle, you wouldn’t think of quietly saying now, Johnny, you shouldn’t do that. You’d be shouting and running to grab Johnny and pull him out of the path of the vehicle. God has to do that with us sometimes. Gentleness is not always the best way of protecting and caring for us.
The verse above shows us when we need gentleness. Jesus tells us to come to Him. Who is to come? All who are weary and burdened. Who of us isn’t tired—from work, from play, from dealing with situations and people, from caring for others…?! In this mixed up world, who isn’t burdened? If not, we should be, but we don’t have to carry our burdens alone.
I will give you rest. Jesus tells us to come and He will give us rest. Oh how I need rest some days more than others. Being retired and home most of the time, I’m usually full of energy, but on those days when I am out running errands or helping someone else, I look forward to coming home, putting my feet up, and spending time with the Lord. He gives not just the physical rest, but the emotional and spiritual rest from stress and cares of this world. Do you need rest today? Slow down, stop, and go to Jesus. If you’re constantly on the go and never stop, you’re like a train that zooms on by but doesn’t stop at the station for people to get off. Jesus wants us to get off at the station and meet with Him, but it won’t happen if we never stop long enough to do so.
When is a person gentle? The first thing that comes to my mind is when a friend is sensitive and caring towards their friend who is hurting in some way. It could be a physical pain, an emotional situation, stress, or loss of someone close to them. At such times we all want someone who understands and isn’t going to belittle us or tell us things we don’t need to hear at that time (maybe later in a gentle spirit, but not in the midst of suffering or loss). Jesus is definitely sensitive and caring. In John 4 when Jesus spoke with the woman at the well, He did not berate her for her sin, but was sensitive and caring in His conversation with her.
A gentle person is calm and thinks rationally in the midst of life’s tragedies and day-to-day situations. When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus in Gethsemane, He was calm and did not fight them. He knew what He had to do and stayed focus.
Strength. Do you think of gentleness and strength being a pair, a matching set, or complimentary to each other? They actually are all of that. It takes emotional strength to be gentle in the midst of a volatile situation. It also takes gentleness to be strong for another person who is experiencing heartbreak or physical pain.
Isaiah 41:10 has become one of my favorite go-to verses: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” God gives us strength and helps us. The picture of Him holding us up with His right hand displays gentleness to me. When I am weak, He is strong with gentleness not force.
Peacefulness. Since this blog is called Perfect Peace, I would be remiss to not mention the fact that gentleness and peacefulness go together as well. They are both the opposite of violence and arguments. Jesus lived a gentle, quiet, and peaceful life. He didn’t cause problems. It was others who caused problems for Him.
In the next post we’ll talk about another characteristic of God’s love for us.
PRAYER POINT FOR TODAY:
Lord, thank You for Your gentleness of strength. Some days I need that gentleness to flow through me both for myself and so I can be that for others.
- Week 1 –temptation
- Week 2 – confession, forgiveness, and fasting
- Week 3 – listening to God and answering when He calls
- Week 4 – God’s love for us
- Week 5 – waiting, anxiety, and trust
- Week 6 – suffering, pain, and struggles
- Easter – resurrection and salvation