Compassion – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
When I was young Christian, my heart was unfeeling toward those who were suffering. Oh, I would feel compassion during times of severe sorrow or affliction, but I had an underlying mentality that people needed to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and move on. I simply did not know what suffering was, for I had never experienced anything that I could not shrug off, and I had no interest in sharing in the suffering of others. Then I suffered a crushing loss, and I knew what it meant to coax my heart to beat and my lungs to take in air. I was the one whose face was flushed with weeping and whose eyes betrayed a deep darkness.[1]
Only by the grace that God poured into my bleeding soul did I find the strength to persevere.[2] For when I turned to Him, the source of all comfort, He held me close to His own heart, and He assured me that He would make a way for me through my sadness and lead me into a place of joy.[3]
Oh, how gladly I would have skipped the pain, yet it yielded lasting fruit, bringing me closer to the person God desires me to be.[4] I, having suffered affliction, learned much about the faithfulness of the Lord to wipe away our tears as He comforts us and replaces the spirit of fainting with a mantle of praise.[5] He gave my self-satisfied eyes sight, so I could see the suffering of others. Loving-kindness was born in my soul, and God melted my frigid heart with His mercy, that I might show mercy. He gave me a spirit of faith and hope, so I could lead others to faith and hope, and He taught me about compassion, so I might show compassion.
Praise God for times of suffering, knowing that He will use them to teach you about His compassion. As one having received compassion, you will be equipped to show it on those who are suffering and to encourage them to trust in our Father’s grace just as He encouraged you by His grace during your times of greatest need.
As you have been comforted, comfort others, extending the compassion of Christ to those who are brokenhearted, lonely, discouraged, impoverished, or ill. Allow your softened heart to extend extraordinary kindness to those in great need of it as you carry the pleasing scent of holiness along with your offering of friendship.[6] Lead them to the refreshing springs of living waters where joy awaits.[7]
[1] Job 16:16
[2] Isaiah 40:29
[3] Isaiah 49:11
[4] Hebrews 12:11
[5] 2 Corinthians 1:5, Isaiah 61:3
[6] Colossians 3:12
[7] Isaiah 49:10
