7 June 2023 - Empathy

Simon Sinek once said: “We must all try to empathise before we criticise. Ask someone what's wrong before telling them they are wrong.”

Empathy is one of the most misunderstood words in the English language. Many of us seem to think it’s about sympathising with others or having compassion for them. But empathy is so much more than that. In a strict sense, empathy is about seeing things through other people’s eyes, walking in their shoes, and feeling what they feel. It’s the connection that stems from the shared experiences that brings us together as human beings.

“Empathy comes from the Greek empatheia – em (into) and pathos (feeling) – a penetration, a kind of travel. It suggests you enter another person’s pain as you’d enter another country, through immigration and customs, border crossing by way of query: What grows where you are? What are the laws? What animals graze there?” – Leslie Jamison

Empathy is the ability to understand the emotions, situations, thoughts, or attitudes of another person.

The Bible frequently refers to acts of empathy:

Romans 12:15 (ESV) Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

1 Peter 3:8 (ESV) Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

1 John 3:17 (ESV) But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

God the Father is the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NLT) All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

God the Son is our sympathetic High Priest who is able to have empathy with our weaknesses and from whom we receive mercy and grace to aid us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:15-16 (NKJV) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

God the Spirit is our groaning Encourager Who groans with us in our suffering and Who never leaves us as orphans but comes along side of us and inside of us to help us in our time of need.

John 14:16-18 (AMP) And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans ; I will come to you.

“Sometimes all a person wants is an empathetic ear; all he or she needs is to talk it out. Just offering a listening ear and an understanding heart for his or her suffering can be a big comfort.” ― Roy T. Bennett

I conclude with “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” ― Leo Buscaglia