The Fruits of the Spirit Devotional: Gentle Strength 🍑
"And after the fire came a gentle whisper." - 1 Kings 19:12 NIV
Imagine for a moment the touch of a shepherd guiding his sheep with care, the soft whisper of a parent soothing their child, or the gentle hand of a healer. Such is the essence of gentleness and the heart of God for us.
We see this in 1 Kings when He gently whispers to Elijah. He is alone and vulnerable, running away for his life after Jezebel vowed to kill him. Terrified, Elijah flees into the desert and prays for the Lord to take his life. While in the cave, he experiences a powerful wind that tears apart the mountain, shattering the rocks before him. Then, an earthquake and a fire. As 1 Kings 19:11-12 tells us, the Lord was not in any of these. He did not come as expected; He came in a gentle whisper. The Lord spoke tenderly to Elijah in his time of need, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (v 13). The gentleness of God melted away Elijah's despair.
Alabaster Bible Co's book Fruit states, "In our weakest moments of humanity, God is present with us to give the same whisper of comfort, to see us, restore us, and heal."
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, lists gentleness among the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Gentleness, often overshadowed by more boisterous virtues like joy and peace, stands as a testament to the quiet, transformative power of God's love.
Gentleness in the Life of Jesus
To understand the fruit of gentleness, we need to look no further than Jesus Himself. In the Gospels, we see a Savior who embodied gentleness in every interaction. When the woman caught in adultery was dragged before Him, Jesus responded not with condemnation but with compassion. "Neither do I condemn you," He said, offering her a new start (John 8:11).
Consider also His invitation in Matthew 11:29: "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." Here, Jesus extends an invitation to a life marked by gentleness, a life where burdens are shared and souls find rest.
The Strength of Gentleness
Gentleness is not weakness and strength is not a spiritual fruit. Our world rarely celebrates power rooted in gentleness. Nevertheless, to live like Christ is to live by the fruit of gentleness. As Zechariah 4:6 NIV states, "'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts." Trying to live under our own strength, power, and zeal is not true strength. The strength that we get from the Spirit is gentle.
"I choose gentleness... Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself." ― Max Lucado
Think about the impact of a gentle word in a heated argument. A soft answer, as Proverbs 15:1 tells us, "turns away wrath." It takes incredible strength to respond with gentleness in moments of tension. This strength is not our own; it is the Holy Spirit working within us, enabling us to reflect the gentle heart of our Savior.
As St Francis de Sales said, "Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength."
Cultivating Gentleness in Our Lives
How, then, do we cultivate this fruit of the Spirit in our own lives? It begins with a surrender to the Spirit's work within us. We must allow Him to soften our hearts, to mold us into the image of Christ. This process is often quiet and subtle, like the growth of a fruit on a tree.
We can also look to the lives of those who have exemplified gentleness. Saint Francis of Assisi, known for his gentle Spirit towards both people and animals, is a profound example. His life was a testament to the power of gentleness, transforming those around him through simple acts of kindness and love.
In our own lives, we can practice gentleness in our words, our actions, and our attitudes. Speak softly, even when you feel like shouting. Respond with kindness, even when others are harsh. Show compassion, even when it is undeserved. In doing so, we become conduits of God's gentle love in a world that desperately needs it. And that includes being gentle with ourselves!
The book, Fruit, goes on to say, "In a harsh world that can be punitive and unforgiving, God gives us permission to be gentle with ourselves as we face doubts, fears, and feelings of inadequacy. When we inevitably fail or fall, self-inflicted hostility can make bad situations worse. Cultivating a tenderness for ourselves leads to pastures of healing, and in return, this softening gives us the capacity to be tender towards others. This is the fruit of gentleness."
A Gentle Legacy
As we seek to cultivate gentleness, we leave a legacy that echoes beyond our own lives. Like a gentle stream that carves through rock over time, our gentle actions can shape hearts and lives in ways we may never fully see. We become, in a sense, the gentle hands of Jesus, touching the world with His love.
In a world clamoring for power and dominance, let us choose the path of gentleness. Let us be the whisper that calms, the touch that heals, the word that lifts. In doing so, we reflect the heart of our gentle Savior, and we fulfill our calling to bear the fruit of the Spirit.
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