Gentle and Quiet

I Pet. 3:4

but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

 

No rants for the godly woman! Actually, just the reverse. How is a gentle and quiet spirit even possible when the unsaved husband is making unreasonable demands, when he blames everything that is wrong in the home on his wife, and when he doesn't see the horrible effects of a divided home? Such pain in the heart of this woman... But God says that the husband may be won without a word on the part of the wife. He can be won by her conduct. How important is the gentle and quiet spirit!

 

But how is this even possible? I think that they only way this gentle and quiet spirit is possible in a home where both partners are believers and in the home where they are not is by implicit and constant trust in the plan and purpose of a  sovereign God. Whatever the home situation is, God planned it! He has a purpose in it. Can a woman trust in that fact? Can she lean on God in the midst of yelling and badgering? Can she keep her soul in a peaceful place when a war wages around her? It must be possible or God wouldn't have said it. Certainly, it is a testament to the amazing and abounding grace of God. Certainly, in those moments when the flesh most wants to react in kind, the godly woman must be praying, keeping the link open between herself and God. She must be channeling all the grace that she can into her inner man. What a spiritual battle is this!

 

Father,

How hard it is not to fight back, not to justify ourselves, not to want to give them what they deserve, but I know that this is not Your way. Grow me in this gentle and quiet spirit. Help me to rest in You no matter what each day may bring. Give grace and strength to those believing wives who deal with a battle in their homes each day. Help us to cling to You constantly so we are constantly ready for a spiritual battle.

In the Name of the Son,

Amen