Learning How to Be Gentle by Walking With Jesus

In Matthew 11:28-29 I read, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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.” (NIV)

Gentleness is important for so many reasons. It defuses conflict. It disarms critics. It’s persuasive. It’s attractive. It communicates love.

Most importantly, gentleness makes me more like Jesus. In Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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” (NIV).

So when I’m feeling weary and burdened, and want to find rest and peace, it will come from being like Jesus; being gentle.

I won’t be able to just walk out the door and force myself to be gentle. Gentleness needs to be an “inside job.” It should be the fruit of God’s Spirit within me. Jesus is gentle, and when I walk alongside him, I’ll learn to be gentle too. 

Daily I need to pray: “Lord, help me to treat people the way Jesus would.” Why? Because I am not by nature a gentle person. So I have to let God produce gentleness in my life.

Three simple ways to practice gentleness with God’s help this week:

1. When somebody serves me, be understanding, not demanding. Then next time you’re in a long line, be considerate—be understanding—of the person who eventually helps me.

2. When somebody disagrees with me, be tender without surrender.

I’ll never get my point across by being cross. I don’t have to back down from God’s truth, but I can treat people with gentleness and respect. 

3. When someone disappoints me, be gentle, not judgmental.

Ephesians 4:32 says it like this: “Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you” (MSG).  

As I walk alongside Jesus and put these things into practice every day, I believe that I will find myself becoming gentler and more like Jesus.

In summary, If I'm struggling and carrying a heavy load, Jesus tells me to come to him, for he will give me rest. I can put on his yoke and learn from him. For Jesus is gentle and humble and in him I will find rest. Gentleness is an important quality to practice. It will defuse conflict, and disarm critics. It's persuasive and attractive. It communicates love. More importantly, gentleness will make me more like Jesus. Jesus is gentle and humble. When I let him share my burdens, I will walk with him in a close relationship. He will give me rest and peace, not stress and pressure.