Soul Care - Compassion & Concern
by Mary Elsbury
When you pass by an accident on your way to work or you see the television ad for mistreated animals, what’s your first reaction? For some, they ignore the wreck or quickly flip to another channel. For many, they are concerned for the victim’s wellbeing and say a prayer; if they are an animal lover, those images of a sad dog tug on their heart.
There is a difference between concern and compassion. Concern is a feeling of worry or interest. A study done in 2014 found that individuals must be able to consider the needs and difficulties others face and have an interest in their perspectives and feelings before they can assist them with what they face. The study determined that people can show interest, but don’t always want to get involved. Compassion is different. It is sensing the issue and having motivation to take action to alleviate suffering.
What is our responsibility?
As believers, when we see an injustice, we should be moved to act. Since the advent of television, we’re no longer onlookers or passersby. We’ve become part of ongoing events, players in the action. It is able to affect us deeply and ignite compassion in us as we see how others in our world are suffering. But there must be a greater role for us to play than that of being deeply touched by what we see and hear on the airwaves. We should respond with compassion and concern for those who are suffering and hurting.
When we go through adversity, it’s reassuring to have someone there to walk with us. Scripture tells us, “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. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
It’s comforting to know our God is “God of all comfort,” who has promised never to leave us or forsake us. One of the things we can do in the midst of a tragic circumstance is to reach out to others with compassion and understanding – to walk with those in need and to comfort them (Matthew 5:4). We need to reach out to others in troubling times. Compassionate people are those who feel the pain of others and act to help alleviate that pain in whatever way they can.
As we reach out to comfort others, our greatest source of comfort has been, and will always be, God. He’s identified with us in our sorrows and pain because His Word teaches us that He is “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). He understands better than we do our unique situations, uncertainties, and fears. And as He comforts us in the difficulties of our lives, we are then able to help comfort others.
To those who are suffering, who are deeply hurt over the losses in your life, let God be your source of comfort and strength. He grieves with you as you bear the weight of your losses and shares with you in the emptiness and helplessness you may feel. He remains by your side, offering you His mercy in the darkest of days because it’s His desire to comfort your heart.
So how can you show concern and compassion for others? Look and listen to what is happening around you. If you get an email that has prayer requests from your Bible Study or group, take a moment and send a note or card letting them know you are praying for them – and do it! See if you can meet their need. If they are recovering from surgery, set up a meal train or take them some homemade soup or a meal.
The next time you come upon an accident or see one of the “bleeding heart” commercials, remember, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” Galatians 6:9-10).
