Getting to Know God – The Father of Compassion

Oh girls, y’all know how I love a good word study, right?! Well, I just spent some time enjoying the multitude of ways the word compassion is used in Scripture!


There are at least five various Hebrew words used in the Old Testament and eight Greek New Testament words that are used for our English word compassion.


They all give us the concept of entering sympathetically into someone else’s sorrow or pain – to have pity on – to feel regret for – to suffer alongside – to comfort – to console.


This is how God responds to our fears, failures and heartaches. He is the God of compassion.

When God was about to rain down His wrath on sinful Sodom and Gomorrah, He had his angels lift Lot and his family from certain death. (Genesis 19:15-17) 

To His prodigal people who humbly return to Him, He compassionately restores their fractured fellowship. (Deuteronomy 3:2-4) 

David called upon God’s great compassion to forgive him of his great sin. (Psalm 51:1-3) 

The Lord longs to show compassion to His children if they would just return to Him – if they would just make Him their delight. (Isaiah 30:18) 

He promises compassion for His people. (Isaiah 54:10) 

Because Daniel refused to defile himself with the kings food, God gave him favor and compassion in the sight of the commander. (Daniel 1:9) 

With compassion He restores His wayward children and answers them when they call. (Zechariah 10:6) 

As He went through the towns ministering miracles and the Word to the people, His heart was filled with compassion for them. (Matthew 9:35-37) 

He had compassion of His hungry followers. (Matthew 15:32) 

When the blind men came to Him for healing, He was moved with compassion. (Matthew 20:33-34) 

In the middle of a funeral procession for a widow woman’s only son, Jesus’ compassion moved Him to perform a life-giving miracle. (Luke 7:12-14)

I don’t know where you are in your journey or where you’ve been. I have no idea what you’re going through – whether your heart is hurting or you’re in a mountaintop season (my favorite seasons!). But I know I know our God is the Father of Compassion.


He sees, He cares and He longs to demonstrate His compassion to each and every one of us who will turn to Him – lean on Him – press into Him – delight in Him.


Let’s get personal:


1. Do you see God as a God of Compassion?


2. Have you been wandering from God and need to come home to the place of mercy, grace and compassion?


3. Do you trust Him to show compassion to you in your circumstances today?


Extra Credit… 


1. Make a list of the painful places in your life where you need to see God move with compassion. Then begin to pray for the Lord to demonstrate His compassion in a way that is obviously Him. (His compassion is like a hug from heaven, sweet friend!)


2. In your prayer journal, write the names of those who you know need to see God move with compassion in their lives and then begin praying that God would release showers of compassion on their lives.

Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:29-30 (NLT)

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns,once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. 1 Peter 5:7 (Amplified)








5 Comments

  1. Love this. Gotta share this with some friends.

  2. A great reminder that we are the recipients AND conduits of God's amazing compassion. Thanks for this wonderful post!

  3. Cindy ~ Thanks so much, friend! You are such a gem and I can't wait to meet you in real life one day soon! 🙂

  4. Donna ~ Thanks so much for popping in. I love the thought that we are “recipients and conduits of God's amazing compassion!” Beautiful! Powerful!

  5. Love this! If there's one element of God's nature that I struggle with above the rest, it's definitely His compassion. When I read the Bible, I always try to underline the instances where God showed compassion or mercy. It helps me remember Who He is.

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