Here’s your sign: Gentleness
Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2008 by oneP3
Phillipians 4:4-7 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
My pastor gave a great message today on this verse. It couldn’t have come at a more timely time. I am beginning to experience God’s faithfulness raining down on me in ways that I have prayed about for years. It isn’t what I initially hoped for. It isn’t the end of the story that I wrote. It doesn’t undo the hurt or even mask it. It exists independent of all of that. It is amazing to see such a different ending than I thought come to pass and yet still experience it as faithfulness. God can be trusted. I have witnessed that His faithfulness miraculously does not have to be circumstantial. It rises above our circumstances and is grounded steadfastly in the goodness and omnipotence of God.
I was reminded today about gentleness…something the Lord has been working on in both Katie and I in the last three years. Even in the midst of trial and suffering. When we are in prison like Paul, we are admonished to let our gentleness be evident to all. We can relax about our futures no matter how badly we have been wounded. We don’t have to vindicate ourselves. We have a loving God who asks us to come to Him with our needs. He promises to guard our hearts and minds. He promises to give us peace. We don’t have to figure things out. That’s His job. We have to let our gentleness be evident to all. Not despite our circumstances but especially in our circumstances. This brings God glory and subsequently revolutionizes the world. Here’s your sign: Gentleness.
Grace and Peace,
Miriam