As surely as resentment has a negative cutting edge that wounds the heart and spirit, compassion has godly attributes capable of healing those wounds. Although it’s difficult to be vulnerable to the degree that compassion demands, it is possible, even toward those filled with hatred.
Compassion is similar to sympathy and empathy. Sympathy understands and shares feelings of sorrow and pain. Empathy is willing to put yourself emotionally in someone’s place who is experiencing that sorrow and pain. An American Indian proverb describes empathy as being able to walk in another person’s moccasins until you know what it’s like to be in their situation.
Compassion acknowledges that you have hurt others, whether intentionally or not. Compassion has the potential to be instrumental in helping others as well as helping yourself to heal. The Bible tells us God is full of mercy and compassion, and his compassion never fails, for it is new every morning.
Jesus the Son of God is our great High Priest who has gone
to heaven itself to help us; therefore let us never stop trusting him. This High
Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, since he had the same temptations we
do, though he never once gave way to them and sinned. So let us come boldly to
the very throne of God and stay there to receive his mercy and to find grace to
help us in our times of need.
~Hebrews 4:14-16 The Living Bible
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