Gentleness, Peace, and Patience
Practicing Patience with Others
Reflection By Scott Stoner
Let your gentleness be known to everyone. … And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
- Philippians 4:5, 7
When we think of strength, we typically think of power, assertiveness, and toughness. While these attributes describe particular aspects of strength, there are other qualities of strength. The New Testament reading from this past Sunday talks about one type of strength that directly applies to practicing patience: “Let your gentleness be known to everyone.”
One sure way to let our gentleness be known to everyone is by being patient with others. Patience and gentleness tend to go together. When we are impatient or irritable with others, we come across as the opposite of gentle, often acting in ways that are rude and abrasive. True emotional and spiritual strength is expressed through patience and gentleness.
The same passage from Philippians also talks about the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding. This is another reminder that God’s peace transcends our usual patterns of thought and practice, and is much more than simply the absence of conflict. This understanding of peace can be helpful as we practice patience with others. Being patient with others is much more than simply not being impatient with them. It means being gentle, loving, and kind, and in doing so, modeling the more profound understanding of the peace and patience to which God calls us.
Making It Personal: Think of a time when you responded with impatience and rudeness toward someone. Now think of a time when you responded with patience and gentleness. What was the difference for you between the two exchanges? For the other person? What helps your ability to be gentle and patient more often?
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