I've been thinking about God's compassion this
week. He loves us, this we know. But included in that love is the very special
quality of compassion.
Webster’s dictionary defines compassion like this:
“sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress
together with a desire to alleviate it.”
For a simple definition, that’s quite profound and
beautiful.
God is aware of our distress. He is sympathetic
toward our pain. He has a desire to meet our needs and bring us through the
trials.
God doesn’t always take away the pain or
immediately stop the trial. But that’s only because He has a greater plan in
mind for us than our temporary ease.
I think it was Joni Eareckson Tada who said that
sometimes God allows what He hates in order to accomplish what He loves.
I’ve seen this to be true in so many people’s
lives, including my own. God sometimes allows pain, suffering, heartache, and
trials in our lives…so that He can accomplish good things in us, like developing
deeper intimacy with Him, delivering us from fears, self-centeredness, pride,
etc., and transforming us from who we are to who He destined us to be.
It’s not always easy to keep sight of the bigger
picture in the midst of our pain. I think that’s why the truth that God is
compassionate toward me comforts me so much.
“But
you, Lord, are a compassionate
and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”
-Psalm
86:15
“Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all
his benefits—...
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with
love and compassion,
...As a father has compassion on his
children,
so the LORD has compassion
on those who fear him.”
-Psalm 103:2, 4, 13
“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I
have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his
compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is
your faithfulness.”
-Lamentations 3:21-23
“Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you
earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and
will have compassion on his
afflicted ones.”
-Isaiah 49:13
“I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD,
the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for
us— yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.”
-Isaiah 63:7
“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he
had compassion on them, because
they were like sheep without a shepherd....”
-Mark 6:34
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who
comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble
with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
-2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Heavenly Father,
Jesus, Holy Spirit - thank you for your compassion, continually expressed to us
in so many ways! We are needy, and we are grateful. You are faithful, and you
are worthy. Amen.
P.S. Thank you for praying for my friend Martha! She's been doing a
little better and is stable enough to be transported now, praise God! I’m so
thankful for God’s compassion that has been expressed to her through many
people. It’s going to be a long recovery from the stroke however. Thank you so
much for your continued prayers for her.
