Be Soft

 

Gentleness Over Hardness

Colossians 3:12

Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Ephesians 4:32

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Proverbs 15:1

A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

1 Peter 3:4

You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within—the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

Gentleness is not weakness. It is a deliberate choice to remain soft in a world that often rewards hardness. Scripture reminds us again and again that God values a tender heart—one that reflects His mercy rather than mirroring the world’s cruelty.

Protecting Against Bitterness

Romans 12:21

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Hebrews 12:15

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

Proverbs 4:23

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

1 Peter 3:4, 9

Do not repay evil for evil or insult for insult. Instead, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Bitterness is subtle. It grows quietly, poisons slowly, and hardens what was once tender. God warns us not because He is strict, but because He is protective. He knows bitterness steals our peace and blinds us to His grace.

Seeing the Good in Our World

Galatians 5:22–23

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Romans 12:2, 21

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind… Conquer evil by doing good.

When we stay connected to God, He reshapes how we see the world. The same world that tries to harden us becomes a place where His goodness can still be found—through kindness, compassion, and small acts of love.

Strength Found in Softness

Matthew 5:5

God blesses the humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.

2 Timothy 2:24

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and patient with difficult people.

“Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard.

Do not let the pain make you hate.

Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness.

Take pride that even though the rest of the world  may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place." -- Lain Thomas

I believe, in the long run, it takes far more effort to remain angry and hateful than it does to smile and choose kindness. That was one of the greatest lessons of my childhood.

I was abused by those who were supposed to protect me. I saw their pain and how it distorted them into anger. For a time, I tried to become like them—believing hardness would protect my body, mind, and soul. But even then, I knew I did not want to live that way. I wanted to be kind. I wanted to be gentle.

I still remember stopping to help an elderly woman struggling to put on her sweater in her car. I was twelve. Her gratitude was overwhelming. Fifty-one years later, I still smile remembering how warm it felt to be kind—and to be appreciated.

My parents lived hard lives. Tenderness wasn’t valued. Praise was rare and barely recognized as praise. Gentleness wasn’t modeled. Yet over time, even my father—once deeply hardened—changed completely when he sobered up. God softened what I thought was immovable.

I still struggle sometimes. I pray often that God helps me be as gentle with human hearts as I am with my pets. I truly believe creation knows God—animals, trees, birds, plants. Turning away from God is a uniquely human behavior.

When we stay connected to God, He keeps us soft. He gives us strength in our softness. He protects us from bitterness and helps us see the world through the eyes of hope and goodness. Satan brings confusion, chaos, anger, and division—but God desires wholeness and goodness for His children.

Jesus died so we could choose the better way.

Amen.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for choosing gentleness over harshness, mercy over judgment, and love over fear. Guard our hearts from bitterness and soften the places where pain has tried to harden us. Help us reflect Your kindness in a world that often forgets compassion. Teach us to respond with grace, forgive freely, and walk humbly with You. Strengthen us to conquer evil with good and to see Your beauty still at work all around us. In Jesus' precious name we pray. 

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom,

and the power,

and the glory forever.

Amen.

BELIEVE.

OBEY.

BE BLESSED.

AMEN.

BOBBA

Love. Penny