In what way is gentleness a fruit of the Holy Spirit?

TL;DR:

Gentleness is a fruit of the spirit and involves having a humble heart and expressing kindness toward others. A gentle heart will accept God's wisdom and yield to His discernment.

Prautes, the Greek word translated "gentleness" in Galatians 5:23, means "to submit one's strength in a posture of meekness." Prautes is translated as "gentleness," "consideration," "humility," and "meekness." One part of gentleness is to calmly accept God's judgment regarding a situation, even if that judgment results in personal hardship. It is humility toward God. When we submit to God, we will also be gentle with others. The fruit of the Spirit, listed in Galatians 5:22–23, is the result of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Each piece of spiritual fruit works in concurrence with the others. We often think of gentleness as tenderness or even softness, but biblical gentleness is more than that. It involves having a humble heart and being kind toward others. Some dictionaries define gentleness in part as being "mild-mannered;" we are polite and restrained in our behavior toward others. Gentleness is closely related to meekness, which is strength under control. Gentleness does not mean weakness or timidity but rather choosing to respond in a way that is best for the other. Those who are gentle are humble and thankful toward God; they have a peaceful mind and submit wholly to His plan.

from the old testament

The psalmist reflected on the Lord’s gentleness as being influential in His life: “You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great” (Psalm 18:35).

from the new testament

The gentleness in the New Testament is closely related to wisdom and spiritual growth. Galatians 6:1, 2 Timothy 2:25, and 1 Peter 3:15 all use gentleness to describe the way we are to correct or teach others.
James 1:21 expounds on the gentle nature we are to have toward God: "Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls."
In 1 Peter 3:15, believers are told “in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” The way we speak to others and defend our faith must be done with gentleness.
James 3:17 explains the characteristics of godly wisdom: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” Wisdom is gentle, therefore responding in gentleness reflects wisdom.
Jesus explains how we can have a spirit of gentleness by learning from Him in Matthew 11:29: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Ephesians 4:2 explains that gentleness is a result of love: “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.”
As we abide in the Spirit we will “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12).

implications for today

We are to submit our strength, including the strength of our convictions, to God's wisdom. We are to teach God's point of view, not our own. And we are to accept that God's actions toward ourselves and others are the right actions, even when human wisdom thinks otherwise. In our teaching approach, we should be respectful toward others. We are not to forcefully share truth or correction, browbeating others into accepting it. Instead, we are called to share truth in a spirit of love (Ephesians 4:13–16). This does not mean that we aren't strong in our convictions or that we don't stand up for what we believe in. Gentleness is not weakness or lack of conviction. Rather, it means that we value the person we are sharing truth with and thus treat them as a person made in God's image. If anything about us is offensive, it should be the message of the gospel itself, not the way we deliver it.

Gentleness is the spirit and attitude behind repentance. To "repent" in a biblical sense is to change one's mind and believe that God is right. Repentance is necessary for salvation, and we need to carry an attitude of repentance in a gentle spirit our entire lives. As a result, we will also be gentle with others, recognizing that they are created in God's image (Genesis 1:27) and loved by Him (2 Peter 3:9).

understand

Gentleness involves humility, kindness, and controlled strength.
Gentleness is not weakness.
Gentleness reflects Jesus' character and submission to God's wisdom.

reflect

In what areas of your life do you need to submit your strength to God’s wisdom?
How can you show gentleness toward others, even in situations where you may feel strongly about your own viewpoint or convictions?
How can you practice responding with gentleness, especially in conversations where you’re sharing your faith or correcting others?

engage

How can we handle ourselves in gentleness while standing firm in our convictions?
How does our attitude impact the way others receive the information we share?
How can we grow in gentleness through the work of the Holy Spirit?