Psalm 18:35-36
“You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.
You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.”
How many of us associate gentleness with greatness? In Psalm 18 David credits God’s gentleness for his greatness. Think about that with me for a moment. How does gentleness promote greatness?
David equates God’s gentleness with giving a wide path for his steps. As I have worked with families across the nation I have found what David says in Psalm 18 to be true. As I am called on to help families with kids who are struggling what do you think I find?
Gentleness or Harshness?
When kids struggle I find that harshness, anger, and or control are present. These produce internal negativity in our kids adversely impacting many areas of their life. It undermines their confidence and motivation. It negatively affects the health and quality of their relationships. And it reduces their immunity to the temptations of the world.
Was David a perfect man? Far from it, but was God gentle in how he brought up his transgressions? Gentleness fosters greatness because a large part of life is failing or falling short and I have found that gentleness fosters learning. In large part greatness comes from the learning that follows failure. A typical entrepreneur has 3 to 7 failures before they have a success.
But…???
Yes, there are examples where God is harsh with nations but how often do we see that with individuals, especially in the New Testament? In the New Testament we see Jesus gently addressing issues in the lives of the woman at the well, the rich young man and even the adulterous woman.
We can assess where we are by asking ourselves this question. Does our family give each other a wide path for our steps or is it a narrow winding or shifting path where our feet are far more likely to slip off. This week let’s stop and pray for gentle hearts, hands and minds so that, like God with David, we might foster greatness in our kids.