Galatians 5:23 — Gentleness
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
As a mother I have been pushed, pulled on, whacked in the face, barged in on and of course thrown up on. And while at times it is perhaps tempting to return the favor, good parents maintain a gentleness even when their children are acting quite the opposite. What makes this possible for a parent? A strong sense of self and a groundedness in their ability to manage the situation.
Have you ever noticed that when you take your child aside for a moment of correction, they hear you better the quieter you speak? A whisper is more effective than a shout because you have to have an intimate level of closeness to be heard. Often people think of God as angry and scolding towards them, but this is most often simply a projection of their parents’ non-gentle behavior onto God. God’s gentleness is like a whisper in a tender moment. He does not shout or demand. God is described in the Bible as patient, slow to anger and rich in love. When he corrects you, he gently tugs at your heart with his Word. Or he paints a mental picture that helps give you a new direction.
Here’s your freedom for today: the touch of God is gentle, slowly molding you into the person he designed you to be. If you resist, he will not push or pull harder. He will stop. He will wait. He will let you walk away if you choose to do so. But he will also be waiting when you are ready to come back. God will never force his way into your life. You are free to dismiss him entirely. But when you do let him in, he is a gentle guest who only takes over areas of your heart as they are surrendered to him. One small and gentle change at a time. What does it mean for you today that God is gentle with you? Pause to listen for his voice — connect with his whisper and gentle touch today.