Rediscovering Meekness by Whitney Akin
“In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace” (Psalm 37:10-11).
Have you noticed how meekness gets a bad rap? Though it’s listed as a fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV), we sort of stare at it with a side eye and wonder how that one slipped in with peace, love, and kindness. When we hear preachers encourage women toward meekness we bristle, feeling the word is a threat to keep us chained in spineless servitude. When we describe someone as “meek” we rarely mean it in a way that speaks to their strength, courage, and humility.
As a shy introvert, I’ve been intrigued by meekness because I’ve often heard it used interchangeably with timidity, a trait I’ve struggled to overcome. But 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that timidity doesn’t come from the Lord. So how can timidity and meekness be twins when one isn’t from the Lord and the other is a fruit of the Spirit? This question inspired me to learn more about what it really looks like to walk in meekness.
Through my deep-dive into studying this little word, I came up with five practical ways to define biblical meekness (and none of them look like timidity!) Meek people are:
• Carried by Jesus
• Connected to others through humility
• Called to service
• Comforted by eternity
• Convinced we will receive justice
Walking in meekness is a beautiful gift. It empowers us with a quiet strength that’s confident and steady. But meekness isn’t easy.
In Psalm 37, David wrote one of the most complete descriptions of walking in meekness. Every line of this beautiful chapter reads like an anthem for the meek heart living in a self-promoting society where evil seems to prosper and the righteous only struggle. His hope for the Christian walking in meekness is simple – hang tight.
Justice is coming, wrongs will be punished, right will be rewarded, and the humble will be exalted. Eternity is the hope that steadies the meek heart. Jesus quoted this very Psalm as he preached the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).
Jesus was full of meekness. He saw beyond his temporary suffering and into the hope of eternity. He showed us that meekness is never easy, but it comes with a beautiful inheritance.
Our self-promoting world needs meek hearts. I think it’s time to give this forgotten fruit of the Spirit a second chance. When it gets hard, let’s hang tight and let our meekness lead others back to Jesus.
Prayer: Humble savior, teach me what it means to walk in the quiet power of meekness. Open my heart to understand this fruit of the Spirit in fresh ways so I might reflect your heart.
Dig Deeper: Read Psalm 37 and pay close attention to David’s words describing the fate of evildoers versus the righteous.
Discussion Questions:
1. Write a list comparing David’s descriptions in Psalm 37. How do his comparisons offer hope for the Christian who feels wronged by the injustices of the world?
2. In what ways can you redefine the stigma of meekness in your own heart?
about whitney akin
Whitney Akin is an author, speaker, wife, and mom. Her heart is for the woman who feels overlooked. After struggling with fear and insecurity for many years, God showed Whitney a better way by teaching her what it means to live seen in his love. God called Whitney out of the shadows of hiding and into public ministry. Her writing has been featured in The Joyful Life Magazine, (in)courage, Her View From Home, The Love Offering blog series, and the Hear Him Louder blog series. Whitney’s first non-fiction, Christian living book, Overlooked, will be released Spring 2023.
Preorder Overlooked: Finding Your Worth When You Feel All Alone
