Compassion While Spent

When life is going along good, it feels easy sometimes to take time to show compassion towards someone else.  We can feel joy and are ready to bless those around us.  

But how about when things are not going along smoothly?  You are experiencing your own difficulty or loss, and you feel spent and the need to be alone.  

Is it possible to still show love to others during such a time?

Jesus experiences this very thing.  In Matthew chapter 14 it shares how when Jesus heard that John the Baptist was beheaded, he withdrew on a boat privately to go to a remote place.  I’m sure he had planned to go there to sit at His Father’s feet to mourn the loss of his friend, but when he got to his destination he found a large crowd waiting for him.  He did not get angry or feel sorry for himself.  When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.  Matthew 14: 14  He set aside his own needs for the moment and poured himself into caring for those that sought him out.  He even met their needs for nourishment by providing enough food for them to all be satisfied before he sent them on their way.

Only then, did he do what he originally set out to do.  He went up on a mountain to pray.  He spent time with his Father to mourn, to pray, to be renewed.  Through the Father, Jesus received the strength and power to continue on his journey.  Which just so happened to be powerful steps on water! 

Father God, let me reflect you in this way.  That even when I am spent and my soul is mourning, when I see other’s needs, give me compassion so that I can set aside my needs and care for others.  Yet still may I find the time to sit at your feet and be refilled by you so I can continue in my life’s journey.  Thank you for your example in Jesus, and thank you that through you, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  In the power of Jesus’ name, Amen.

- Sue Parrott