As Christians, we experience two worlds: the one we’re in and the one we’re of.

Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed for His disciples, saying, “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one” (John 17:14–15).

Jesus knew His followers would face hostility, just as He did (John 15:18–21). The solution was not to pluck them from the earth, but to help them withstand opposition as people who are in, but not of the world.

In this present world, power imbalances often result in some people engaging in ruthless domination while others cower in fearful weakness.

Neither of those extremes represents the way of Jesus. During His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).

Meekness brings rewards in this world and the one to come. Our calling is to follow Christ’s example and keep His story in view — with one foot in time and the other in eternity.

What Meekness Is

Some people equate meekness with weakness. That’s not the biblical portrait, however. In fact, Scripture depicts Jesus himself as meek.

In Matthew 11:29, Jesus said, “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.”

The Greek word translated “gentle” is praus, the same term Jesus used in Matthew 5:5.

Meekness is strength disciplined. It is a close companion of humility — which my predecessor, Pastor Jim Bradford, defines as “having an accurate assessment of yourself without needing to be the center of attention.”

Humility honestly assesses strengths, while meekness brings those strengths under righteous authority.

At the triumphal entry, Jesus came into Jerusalem “gentle (praus) and riding on a donkey” (Matthew 21:5).

Jesus demonstrated self-awareness, knowing what He could do; people-awareness, understanding how His actions would affect others; and God-awareness, honoring the Father’s plan.

When an armed mob came to arrest Him, Jesus said, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (Matthew 26:53–54).

Rather than using power to save himself, Jesus willingly laid down His life to save others (John 10:17–18). That is the ultimate picture of meekness.

What strength can you flex — or choose to discipline for God’s glory?

Maybe it’s positional. The ministry role you are in could give you a position of authority. But it should only be used with discipline to bring God glory.

Perhaps you have the verbal skills to overpower your less-verbal spouse. Leveraging that advantage during arguments would not contribute to a healthy marriage.

Ron, an excellent pickleball player, offers free lessons as a church outreach.

When facing a skilled opponent, Ron brings his best game.

However, Ron dials it back against less advanced players, adjusting his intensity to help others learn the sport and have fun.

Rather than using power to save himself, Jesus willingly laid down His life to save others. That is the ultimate picture
of meekness.

Ron is a meek pickleball player because he knows how to discipline his strength.

In The 5 Masculine Instincts, my pastor, Chase Replogle, acknowledges that American culture seldom celebrates meekness in men. Nevertheless, he defends the importance of this biblical virtue.

An equestrian hobbyist, Replogle sees in his horse an illustration of meekness.

“The willingness of the horse to cut in a new direction with only the slightest pressure of a knee is remarkable to me,” Replogle writes. “Even after years of riding, my horse has not lost his personality. … Meekness doesn’t breed out the horse’s power. Meekness matures it into something useful, something controllable, something disciplined, something better.”

Replogle continues: “A meek person can still feel that burning desire for reaction. But they have discovered their real strength lies in discipline of being led by God, not their emotions. … So much of what appears to be power in this world is really just desperation. And so much of what appears to be strength is just flailing insecurity.”

What Meekness Is Not

Meekness is not apathy. It does not mean giving up or sitting on the sidelines because of laziness, frustration, or fear.

When God wants to use your strengths for His purpose, ignoring the moment is dereliction of duty, not meekness.

While pastoring in Ohio, I had to pivot mid-sentence from preaching to giving evacuation instructions one Sunday morning when a fire alarm sounded.

I like to delegate and consider my leadership style to be collaborative, but I knew our emergency plan best and recognized I needed to lead quickly.

“Parents of infants, leave first and go to the nursery to claim your baby,” I said. “Parents of children, exit the building and reunite with your kids at the far end of the parking lot. Ushers, direct people to all three stairwells. Do not use the elevators.”

Meekness does not negate the responsibility to lead and use your gifts, knowledge, and voice to help others.

Being from Cleveland, I became a Cavaliers fan. During one NBA playoff game, LeBron James scored the winning three-point shot just before the buzzer sounded. Afterward, a reporter asked James what he had told his teammates when they were down with three seconds left on the clock.

Without hesitation, James replied, “Give me the ball.”

When you are best equipped in the moment to help the team, or the body of Christ, it is just good stewardship to step up and use that gift. Rather than cowering back, thinking you are being meek, lean into that “give me the ball” moment.

Jesus did not shrink from His mission, but proceeded with disciplined strength. He said, “I lay down my life — only to take it up again. … I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again” (John 10:17–18).

Growing in Meekness

So, how do we grow in meekness? It starts with tuning in to the eternal story — being spiritually aware and surrendered to the Father.

In Luke 23, Jesus stood before Pilate and Herod Antipas. He faced charges of opposing tax payments, seizing political leadership, and stirring up mobs (verses 2,5).

Quite the contrary, Jesus never encouraged people to withhold taxes, but told them to give Caesar what belonged to him (Luke 20:25). He declared His kingdom is not of this world (Luke 17:20–21). And far from stirring up violence, Jesus quietly walked away from it (Luke 4:28–30).

Although Jesus had the information and power to put up a fierce defense, He responded meekly. Peter later recalled, “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23).

Two stories were playing out across two worlds — the here and there. And with His life in the balance, Jesus surrendered His right to defend and vindicate himself.

Jesus embraced His redemptive mission and submitted to the Father’s will. May we follow His example, surrendering all to God for His glory.

As author Ruth Haley Barton says, “At the heart of spiritual leadership is the capacity to notice the activity of God so we can join Him.”

Meekness is not weakness, but strength disciplined.

This article appears in the Summer 2025 issue of Influence magazine.