Here's a scenario we're all familiar with: You leave a comment on a Facebook page or post a status. Out of nowhere, a trolling friend or someone you don't even know leaves an angry reply or reaction that just gets out of hand. What do you do?
In this age when we are encouraged to "speak our mind," the more popular way to respond to hate is to fight fire with fire. The belief is that if you're really worth something, you have to fight for it.
That's the way the world thinks. But the way God thinks is completely different.
One Bible character we can reference to on the subject of meekness is Moses. Number 12:3 says, "Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth."
We might think that his strength came despite his meekness, but the truth is that his strength came from his meekness.
On many occasions being the receiving end of insults, hate, complaint and rage, Moses often found himself in a position of humility and gentleness. But in that gentleness, he performed some of the greatest feats the world will ever know.
Meekness is not weakness. We've all probably heard that before.
But how is meekness strength? You can say that it takes more strength to remain gentle when the world around you is generally violent. When people on social media feel they're right and you're just an insolent moron, true strength lies letting Christ's peace and joy overtake you.
Meekness and anger suppression are two different things. God never asks us to suppress emotions.
The difference is who we direct emotions to. The easy way out is to direct emotions towards others.
But the proper yet more challenging way is to lay it at the foot of the cross. It's here where we find solitude and refuge, responding in gentleness and humility.
One of the best examples of meekness is Jesus Christ Himself. He was expressive and blunt, but never overtaken by His emotions to the point of losing control. When ridiculed and judged wrongly by Pharisees and officials, He trusted simply in the Father's will.
That's why meekness is so strong—because it takes the power off our hands and reassigns it to our God. We know God's ways are always higher and better. But we don't always default into it.
When the Holy Spirit comes and gives you a fruit that brings gentleness, peace and self-control, God trains our heart to remain meek when people only see it as being weak.
Meekness is the result of a heart of humility which God always exhausts and lifts up above pride and aggression.
When faced with hostile situations, how do you respond? Is it in you to trust God and be gentle and meek, or do you explode easily with aggression?
