A gentle and quiet spirit
1 Peter 3 verse 4: “Let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious”.
Our society places a great deal of emphasis on outward appearance, actions and individual expression. There is no shortage of voices, all clamouring to express an opinion, with the underlying assumption that noise means strength and generates response. A gentle and quiet spirit can be perceived as weak or submissive.
But, the value of a gentle and quiet spirit is made clear throughout God’s word. We are continually encouraged to focus on transforming our inner self rather than expending energy on outward appearance. One only has to look to Jesus Christ to see the inner power that shines through a spirit of gentleness and quiet strength.
According to the Hebrew and Greek roots, the word ‘quiet’ refers to a state of “being undisturbed, at ease and set on”. ‘Gentleness’ is “a sensitive disposition and kindness prompted by love”, associated throughout scripture with streams of water, the willingness to yield, the ability to lead and humility.
Gentleness is power under control. When I picture gentleness, I see Jesus. I see him calming the wild storm, healing the sick, and loving all. He carries our burdens because he is “gentle and humble in heart”. The power of this kind of gentleness changes lives. A soft spoken word can calm the harshest response. To be gentle is not saying what we want whenever we wish, no matter how much we want to say it, or how true it is. Gentleness is knowing when to speak and when to stay silent and being okay with both. Just like Christ, we should speak with purpose and grace. Quietness refers to the state of our spirit. Are we tossed back and forth by the wind and waves of our circumstances? Or are we steady and connected to God who is immovable, firm, a rock, and refuge?
Gentleness and quietness are not characteristics that come naturally to most, rather they grow as we nourish our hearts with wisdom found in the Bible. We cultivate them through practice. Each day presents a new opportunity to interact with others; to offer a gentle word or refrain from speaking an unkind thought. Rather than immediately judging or reacting when we perceive others make a mistake or frustrate us, let us take a step back, breathe and humble ourselves. We can then choose to respond with kindness, understanding and forgiveness rather than condemnation and anger. Each time we choose to act with gentleness, we encourage peace and reflect the character of Christ. As time passes and God’s spirit grows within us, our character will be beautifully moulded. When our hearts become restless and disquiet within us, we can trust in the Lord and He will save us from being overwhelmed.
