The Gentle Savior - Briella Dignan

While reading in the Bible the other day, a verse jumped out to me that I had never really paid attention to before. Psalms 18:35 says, “Thy gentleness hath made me great.” As I began to think and meditate on this verse, God began to really work on my heart. I have a holy, powerful, loving God. But one thing that I do not think much about is His gentleness. I have a gentle God too.

Gentleness has many definitions. One definition that I really love is, “Refusal to use harm to anyone.” How true is this of God. Our great, powerful God is so gentle. So many times, His gentleness is something that I have taken for granted. I love to see the powerful God. The God who created the world, the God who will destroy the wicked someday, the God who works miracles and changes lives. Yet, the God full of gentleness is the one who has made me great. Throughout the ages, people have worshiped false gods out of fear that their “god” would harm them if they did not do what he wanted. My God is not a God who wants to make my life miserable. In fact, He says in Matthew 11:29-30, “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” He is so gentle to us. He wants us to come to Him so He can help carry us through life.

So many people today have associated gentleness with weakness, but that is not true. The strongest ones are the ones who must learn to be gentle. Our great God, sovereign, ruler of all, gave us His Son, Jesus. Jesus willingly, gently, laid down His life for us, so we could be saved. He could have called ten thousand angels and shown His power that way, but if He had not gently laid down His life, we would have no hope. His strength was so beautifully evident on the cross as He so calmly, so tenderly, gave up the ghost, so I could be saved. A truly gentle person knows what suffering is. A truly gently person knows what it is like to be hurt and to be abused. They know what it is like to receive anger and hatred toward them. However, they decide that they never want to bring the pain they have experienced to others. Jesus experienced this pain so that we would never have to. He chooses to come to each person with a gentleness and a love that is so evident. (Isaiah 53:4-5)

So many things God does for each one of us He does so gently. In life, we cannot physically hear God speak with our ears, but oh, how we feel His gentle presence when we call His name. Each and every day our Lord walks with us. The Holy Spirit guides us so gently, never forcing us to do anything. How sad that so many times we push aside His will and do our will instead? And even when I fail Him and sin against Him, He gently forgives me. Think of all the ways He has so gently worked things out in your life. To the smallest detail, God has always been gently working to make your life one that reflects Him. Appreciate His gentleness. Appreciate the fact that you have an all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving, eternal, God who WANTS (Yes, I said WANTS) to spend time with YOU. You are special to Him. He loves you. He wants to be YOUR Best Friend. He wants to help you through the hard times. He wants to celebrate with you in the good times, and He wants you to recognize Him and praise Him ALL the time.

So, as I look at Psalms 18:35, it means more to me each and every day. “Thy gentleness hath made me great.” Just like the Psalmist David wrote, as I look at my life, I can say the same thing. God is the reason. Everything I have is because of God. Everything I am is because of God. Everything I have potential to become is because of God. I am great because I have the Greatest Friend who will never leave my side. “What the dew is to the flower, gentle words are to the soul.” (Polly Rupe) He speaks so gently to you. Listen to Him. Read His Word. Let His gentle words and presence, help you bloom and grow in your Christian life so you can become more like The Gentle Savior.