Compassion is not always our first response when faced with the needs around us. Sometimes, we have sympathy but are not moved to act in solidarity. Henri J.M. Nouwen wrote about this tendency: “Compassion is hard because it requires the inner disposition to go with others to the place where they are weak, vulnerable, lonely, and broken. But this is not our spontaneous response to suffering. What we desire most is to do away with suffering by fleeing from it or finding a quick cure for it.” How can we become more equipped to have a posture of compassion at all times?

Remember God's Heart

As children of God, we are beneficiaries of God’s deep compassion (Psalm 103:8). Jesus was moved by his Father’s compassion as he ministered publicly on earth, healing and feeding the crowds that came to him (Matthew 9:36). With the knowledge that God is stirred in the same way to care for us and our needs, we can then turn and pour out compassion towards others as an act of thankfulness and worship.

"The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love." - Psalm 103:8, NIV

Remember the Stories

Each one of us carries memories, experiences, and circumstances that shape who we are and how we act. What is your own history? How has it shaped the viewpoints you hold and the choices you make? To better cultivate compassion in the face of need, we must put ourselves in the stories of the people we encounter. What would our response be if faced with the same set of circumstances? What would we need if we had the same difficulty? These questions can help grow our hearts and help us stand in solidarity with those who are suffering.

Remember to Pray and Plan

Compassion is more than a feeling—it requires action. Acting compassionately to care for people requires us to give of our time, our resources, and our skills. This level of engagement isn’t easily done without preparation. Whether we need to begin to budget so we have funds to contribute to charitable causes or evaluate time in our schedule to serve in an outreach ministry, without prayer and planning, it can be hard to know how best to help. Ask God to show you what needs you are best equipped to meet, and then put a strategy down on paper. Above all, pray for a heart to see people through God’s compassionate eyes.

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them,
because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." - Matthew 9:36, NIV

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Taken from the latest NCM Magazine. Click here to read the issue.