Strength to Endure in the Present

A cultural proverb states that one should “speak softly and carry a big stick.” The idea is to tread quietly but deter people with the threat of violence. It has even been modified to use as a foreign policy for countries, such as under President Theodore Roosevelt. This is not meekness. The meekness Jesus teaches isn’t some sort of threat or strength on standby; rather, it’s that confidence in God is strong enough to give a believer the strength to endure in the present.