Calm
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
Jesus was especially good at speaking the language of calm. The axis of humility is internal. It’s an emotional posture that makes the people in your presence feel unburdened, light and connected to you all at the same time. Your presence is unforced but strong. This is true, because at its roots, true Christ based humility in a man combines a modest opinion of one’s own importance with an excessively high estimation of the importance of God and people. In a personal encounter, the possessor of humility disappears as an emotional obstacle to the other person and leaves two powerful forces in their place: God’s presence and the other person’s importance. Think Jesus and the prostitute. Feel the interaction between Jesus and the man born blind. What did they all experience? They all stood in God’s presence and felt safe and connected to God. Humbling, isn’t it?
From the perspective of Jesus, His offer is attractive not because of the promise or the result. In his mind you accept His invitation because you see and want His character. You let Jesus into your life and let Him show you how to manage it because you know He will not harm you. He is “gentle and humble in heart,” and because we know this, we keep coming back. Ultimately knowing Him brings us to a place of trust where we can unload what’s happening inside us. Jesus was especially good at speaking the message of calm.
Thank you, Jesus, for the peace that passes all understanding.