To finish up this Wholeness series, I am going to talk about a realigned soul (compassion).
Something I have been reflecting on recently is that when the crisis of my life happened, in the midst of the aftermath, I didn’t have a crisis of belief too. I did not go through, what some are calling, a deconstruction season. However, I will say, I had many realignment moments. So many things had to be submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ to find my new or renewed order for my future life. Realigning your daily life is not easy. Priorities have to change, friendships sometimes have to change, bedtimes have to change, how you spend your free time may have to change. The list could go on and on.
Did you notice the reoccurring word mentioned: CHANGE! 😩
How do you change?
One day, one small commitment at a time. Whether little by little, yard by yard, you will accomplish a lot.
When you start to lean into the process of change, please have compassion on yourself. It takes a lot of courage to do something new, and possibly not do it well. Do you know how intimidating it is as an adult to feel like a kid when learning something new? So again, I will say, compassion is so critical in tending to matters of the heart.
Compassion literally means “to suffer together.” Among emotion researchers, it is defined as the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another's suffering and feel motivated to relieve that suffering. Compassion is not the same as empathy or altruism, though the concepts are related. (https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/compassion/definition)
As you read this definition above, can you say you have the capacity to give that to yourself or others? I have to confess, I didn’t until I walked through deep grief. I do believe some people have more of a disposition for this level of connection, but for me it wasn’t accessible until it was actively needed in my own life.
This takes me to a story in the New Testament:
A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.” But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him.
-Mark 1:40-45 NLT
I haven’t done deep research on this, but I have a feeling that every time healing happened in the Bible, compassion was present. Jesus was fully God and fully man. He felt it all and He healed it all. He even told them not to share, and yet they couldn’t help but share for they had not seen such miracles in all the land. His compassion drew the multitudes.
I don’t know if you have watched any episodes of The Chosen, but they do an amazing job at depicting compassion through Jesus. It brings tears to your eyes to witness it. It makes it real and more relatable. The love and compassion Jesus had for people and their suffering was something my mind had not fully understood. In the last episode of the first season, there is a dialogue with Jesus and the woman at the well. It is so epic and stirs my heart so deeply I’m going to link it here.
Jesus and the Outcast Woman at the Well – The Chosen
As a worship team at my church, the scripture that has been our anchor comes from John 4:23 which says, “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.”
This seven minute video shares a little bit of this passage of scripture in Jesus’ dialogue with the woman. It is so beautiful, for it shows our humanity on so many levels. She depicts pain, shame, disappointment, feelings of rejection, and worth. So many things are addressed in their conversation, but really, her deepest wound was broken trust. Jesus addresses them all with compassion and love. I believe this is who He truly is. Folks, He is here to realign our hearts and to really heal us by revealing the lies we have been inwardly believing. When we can see Christ for who He truly is, we can really receive it, which will then finally heal it. You could see the transformation on the woman at the well’s face when her heart dared to believe He was truly the Christ. He came for her!! And He is coming for you too. 🥹
If you are dealing with any of these feelings that I mentioned above, I dare you to take some time to sit in His presence and surrender all your sadness to the Living Water Healer. He told the woman everything she ever did, and yet joy was the emotion she left with. I hope you could feel the lightness and joy in her tone of voice as she leaped back to the city. I have read more about her story and she was the voice for her community. Jesus chose her, for she never looked back and shared her story for the rest of her days. This was a true encounter, for His anointing broke the yoke of bondage she was carrying. He can do the same for you!!! It doesn’t feel good to reveal your inner feelings, but to truly be healed, they need to be revealed. 🫶🏼
Well, I hope you have enjoyed this wholeness series. I’m always surprised by what leaps onto the page, and yet humbled by the spark that keeps igniting in my heart to impart. Stay tuned for December’s overview as we look back on what this year has taught me/us and as we continue this journey from glory to glory.
Until next time,
Stay Tender
Connect to the Mender
Be a Sender