"Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." Philippians 4:5
How is gentleness a remedy for anxiety?
Gentleness is outward evidence that you have your control issues under control!
So, what is gentleness?
The Greek word Paul chose to use here is “epieikes”.
It is a rich word that's hard to capture in the English language - some close equivalents might be - , graciousness, forbearance, patience, sweet
reasonableness, mildness, leniency, yieldedness, kindness, charitableness,
considerateness, magnanimity, bigheartedness, generosity.
Combining some of those concepts together might help and then to apply them in real life scenarios may clarify what Paul meant by "gentleness".
1. Reasonable Flexibility - Fair
Paul says to us, “Let your gentleness be evident to all men.” Be mild, be kind,
and—as long as it doesn’t violate the Word of God—be yielding. Be reasonably
persuadable—reasonably flexible. Create connecting points. Seek win-wins.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones says this person had “the capacity to differentiate between what
is really of vital importance and what is not, to stand like a rock by the
things that are vital, [and] to be reasonable about the things that are not.”
Firmly and confidently grounded in the Word
of God you can look to create win-win situations like Paul did on Mars Hill.
Temperate Gentleness – Approachable
A person marked by gentleness is:
A person marked by gentleness is:
·
CALM
·
UNFLAPPABLE
·
ACCEPTING
·
WELCOMING
·
SAFE
Patient Forbearance – Secure
A gentle person is secure in himself and:
A gentle person is secure in himself and:
·
NOT
DEFENSIVE
·
LENDS A LISTENING EAR
·
ABSORBS
CRITICISM
·
OPEN
TO DISCUSSION
·
CONFIDENT
BUT NOT OPINIONATED
·
SEEKs TO PERSUADE NOT BROWBEAT
4. Humble Surrender - Selfless
And that leads very naturally into the
fourth characteristic: humble surrender. The gentle man humbly and willingly
surrenders his own rights.
· WANTS
TO GET IT RIGHT
· DOESN’T
CLING TO RIGHTS
· DOESN’T
HAVE TO GET THE CREDIT
· WILLING
TO LET IT BE SOMEONE ELSE’S IDEA
5. Happy Contentment - Gracious
Finally, the one who manifests this
gentleness to which we’re called is also marked by a happy contentment. He has
learned to “Rejoice in the Lord, always.”
What a wealth of truth is stored up into
this one word, gentleness. Let me summarize by quoting Pastor John MacArthur.
He writes, “Perhaps the best
corresponding English word is graciousness—the graciousness of humility; the
humble graciousness that produces the patience to endure injustice, disgrace,
and mistreatment without retaliation, bitterness, or vengeance.”
A gentle person has learned to overcome anxiety by taking control of these attitudes and putting everything else under God's control?
Are you gentle?
Do you recognize any of these traits with yourself?
A gentle person has learned to overcome anxiety by taking control of these attitudes and putting everything else under God's control?
Are you gentle?
Do you recognize any of these traits with yourself?