The opposite of a meek spirit is a hot-tempered, headstrong, explosive and fiery spirit that immediately goes ballistic about things that cross it, and takes offense even at trivial things. Meekness calms the mind so that the inner peace cannot be disturbed by any external provocation. A meek person does not react aggressively when he is treated meanly. He also does not revolt when he is asked to do something he does not like.

W. J. Hocking sums it up as follows: Meekness is a quality of man’s inner nature, better expressed in demeanor, perhaps, than in words. It is unresisting; it is a forgiving temperament, and it is unruffled by personal injuries and provocations. Meekness is not natural to us, nor inherited by us. It is developed within us by the exercise of faith, and becomes a habit of mind and spirit into which the believer is molded as he progresses in spiritual life.

To really practice meekness is a great challenge for each one of us. After all, most of us probably know from our own experience how quickly we get upset when things do not go our way. How often have we allowed ourselves to be provoked and immediately shot back when we were attacked? But this should not discourage us. It is and remains God’s goal for our lives that we make progress in the matter of meekness by learning from our Master and becoming more and more like Him!

What does it mean to be meek towards God? It means accepting trials, difficulties, problems, and disappointments from His hand without defiance, rebellion, or bitterness. In short, it means saying “yes” to God’s will and ways with us without reluctance and with surrender.