You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
John 16:20-22
I have discovered that compassion is ignited by anguish (grief), yet they are equal partners in response to the flame of Christ’s Spirit burning within. To see those who are sick, harassed, and living in emptiness without Christ sparks anguish, in turn, igniting compassion for them. Compassion turns into action by surrender to Christ’s Spirit and we become more like him, “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12, see also Philippians 2:1-8, Galations 5:22-23).
Today my joy comes when sharing God’s Word with you, encouraging you to be Christlike. Compassion is what urges me to pray for you, to share the story Christ, and to minister to you in the Spirit. It is by kindness, humility, gentleness and patience I can submit to a sovereign God and in Christ’s power know that the hope of healing, peace, blessings, and salvation will come to you.
Jesus sees with a compassion that is ignited by anguish—Jesus wept tears of anguish, his compassion took Him to the cross, and the power of His resurrection replaced anguish and grief with hope and joy. Likewise, as anguish ignites “God’s chosen people,” compassion is birthed, from which comes joy: to giver and receiver alike.
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