Learn How to Be Gentle by Walking with Jesus

by Rick Warren — July 7, 2019

“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” (Matthew 11:28-29 NIV).

Gentleness is an important quality to practice. It defuses conflict. It disarms critics. It’s persuasive. It’s attractive. It communicates love.

Most importantly, gentleness makes you more like Jesus. In Matthew 11:28-29, he 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).

Wait. Does this mean that the stress and the pressure you’re feeling in life reveal that you are not gentle? Yes. Because the Bible says that the gentler you become, the more Christlike you become and the more at rest you will be.

Do you want to be at peace? Do you want to be like Jesus? You can’t just walk out your door and force yourself to be gentle. You can’t manufacture gentleness, because inside you’re still going to be under stress. It’s got to be an “inside” job. It has to be the fruit of God’s Spirit inside you.

Jesus is gentle and humble. When you let him share your burden, you will walk with him in a close relationship. You will learn how to be gentler and humbler, and he will give you rest and peace, not stress and pressure.

Talk It Over

  • What does it mean to take Jesus’ yoke upon you?
  • Have you ever used the excuse that you’re “just not a gentle person”? What other learned traits do we sometimes treat like they are inherent?
  • How have you seen a difference in your life, including becoming gentler, since you became a believer and received the Holy Spirit?

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.