Biblically does suffering/hardship lead to empathy?

[fizzyjoe]

I have pondered this of late particularly because I am thinking back upon my own past and how I have gradually changed from unfeeling and intensive to more compassionate and empathetic towards similar individuals with similar circumstances in their past...
but, more to the point what does the Bible tell us?
is suffering or hardship like a key to empathy or can one find empathize without so much of tough circumstances?
feel free to share passages that to come to mind and discuss😀🙏

 

[Cameron143]

I have pondered this of late particularly because I am thinking back upon my own past and how I have gradually changed from unfeeling and intensive to more compassionate and empathetic towards similar individuals with similar circumstances in their past...
but, more to the point what does the Bible tell us?
is suffering or hardship like a key to empathy or can one find empathize without so much of tough circumstances?
feel free to share passages that to come to mind and discuss😀🙏

In Galatians 6 we are told that we reap what we sow. Most see this passage as dealing with potential judgment, and rightly so. But Romans 8 teaches that God works all things for the believer's good. One of those good things is likely empathy and compassion.
I heard a preacher one day say that the faces we cause others to wear we will one day wear ourselves. I've found this to be true. And the result is that I am more sensitive to the effects my words and actions have on others.

 

[Kroogz]

I have pondered this of late particularly because I am thinking back upon my own past and how I have gradually changed from unfeeling and intensive to more compassionate and empathetic towards similar individuals with similar circumstances in their past...
but, more to the point what does the Bible tell us?
is suffering or hardship like a key to empathy or can one find empathize without so much of tough circumstances?
feel free to share passages that to come to mind and discuss😀🙏

Aside from the principle of personal responsibility and the consequences thereof, suffering or hardship can be for blessing. Paul prayed 3 times for the thorn to be removed from him. He then realized that the thorn was put there for his benefit and Gods benefit. Gods grace is sufficient. Suffering and hardship can grow us and glorify God. God has given us His plan and all that we need to make the right decisions and utilize His ways rather than our ways to endure. Satan uses undeserved suffering on believers to get us to "curse God." And God provides us the means/blessings/tools to suffer and bring Glory to Him if we utilize what He has given us........and we are beneficiaries of blessings and growth for enduring it His way.

 

[JaumeJ]

If we forgive others their trespasses, Jesus Yesua will forgive them also. I believe this applies to us as His followers, I mean that in so doing our Blessed Lord will forgive us also.

Knowing this, it certainly makes it a lot easier to forgive others, actually it takes the burden off of each of us putting it all upon Jesus Yesua. Praise Him, for He is worthy not we.

God bless all, amen

 

[SunshineGirl]

Aside from the principle of personal responsibility and the consequences thereof, suffering or hardship can be for blessing. Paul prayed 3 times for the thorn to be removed from him. He then realized that the thorn was put there for his benefit and Gods benefit. Gods grace is sufficient. Suffering and hardship can grow us and glorify God. God has given us His plan and all that we need to make the right decisions and utilize His ways rather than our ways to endure. Satan uses undeserved suffering on believers to get us to "curse God." And God provides us the means/blessings/tools to suffer and bring Glory to Him if we utilize what He has given us........and we are beneficiaries of blessings and growth for enduring it His way.

It is like the book of Job. Satan was all over Job but what an amazing man and how much trust and faith in God he had.... amazing 🥰

 

[SunshineGirl]

This video just popped up on my phone to watch/listen to. I found it very helpful. I hope you all can get some help and comfort from it 🥰

 

[Nehemiah6]

is suffering or hardship like a key to empathy or can one find empathize without so much of tough circumstances?

There is no Scripture (that I know of) directly connecting the two things. But Paul does say that we are to rejoice with then that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

 

[Nehemiah6]

It is like the book of Job. Satan was all over Job...

But there was so empathy from his so-called friends. According to them Job was to blame for all the calamities which descended on him.

 

[PaulThomson]

I have pondered this of late particularly because I am thinking back upon my own past and how I have gradually changed from unfeeling and intensive to more compassionate and empathetic towards similar individuals with similar circumstances in their past...
but, more to the point what does the Bible tell us?
is suffering or hardship like a key to empathy or can one find empathize without so much of tough circumstances?
feel free to share passages that to come to mind and discuss😀🙏

We are living in a war zone: the powers of darkness are seeking to destroy anything good. God through the body of Christ is seeking to destroy the works of the devil. We all become wounded casualties of this warfare at times. As we learn to draw comfort/strength from God and to resist and impose Christ's victory on satan, we understand the wounds others are suffering and we learn to fight alongside them in their battles, not seeing other flesh and blood casualties as our enemies, but as either fellow combatants or victims of satan's deceit whom he is manipulating to get us to leave Christ's victory path of sacrificial love and fall into self-protective retaliation.

But we wrestle not against flesh and blood.
Yes. Our wounds ought to work in us a compassion for others who are may be either deceived or wounded or both.

 

[fizzyjoe]

In Galatians 6 we are told that we reap what we sow. Most see this passage as dealing with potential judgment, and rightly so. But Romans 8 teaches that God works all things for the believer's good. One of those good things is likely empathy and compassion.
I heard a preacher one day say that the faces we cause others to wear we will one day wear ourselves. I've found this to be true. And the result is that I am more sensitive to the effects my words and actions have on others.

I believe I understand the preacher's point, just like the passage of removing a moat from another's eye when one's own eye has one yet does not see it consider others first before speaking,similarly a passage I recently thought of...
tis better to remain silent and seemeth a fool than to open thine mouth wide removing all doubt, words as we know have power and it's good to exercise discipline and restraint lest we shame ourselves or worse yet become an obstacle to a soul seeking God/Jesus

 

[fizzyjoe]

Aside from the principle of personal responsibility and the consequences thereof, suffering or hardship can be for blessing. Paul prayed 3 times for the thorn to be removed from him. He then realized that the thorn was put there for his benefit and Gods benefit. Gods grace is sufficient. Suffering and hardship can grow us and glorify God. God has given us His plan and all that we need to make the right decisions and utilize His ways rather than our ways to endure. Satan uses undeserved suffering on believers to get us to "curse God." And God provides us the means/blessings/tools to suffer and bring Glory to Him if we utilize what He has given us........and we are beneficiaries of blessings and growth for enduring it His way.

I think of that passage often because it's rather rare and a learning experience because if we go further with it we can consider ourselves and what we feel may hinder us from serving God/Jesus but,ask and ye shall receive unless as you point out God/Jesus has left the presumed issue for a purpose for perhaps motivation, strength or some reason we may not comprehend, I myself have been rather seizure free due to asking God/Jesus to remove that affliction particularly mind wise,quite the blessing and I'm grateful, yet after this I have comsidered that some other hurt to my person I should live with or manage because while painful or difficult at times they are still merely skin deep so to speak, and I am quite the determined individual so it doesn't keep me down unless I have a prior affliction like sickness, sometimes I think my suffering or pain does enpower me because it reminds me that I have chosen my path and if I'm to be serious and walk it as I intend then I can't be making so many excuses anymore as I did when I was younger

 

[fizzyjoe]

It is like the book of Job. Satan was all over Job but what an amazing man and how much trust and faith in God he had.... amazing 🥰

oh I have been thinking of Job lately...
ever since Christmas I have had Bronchitis,back pain and joint pain and what helps me through is remembering that Job went through worse, just the boils from head to toe is nowhere near the same, Job was truly strong willed and in a way an inspiration to me,I have been facing many an affliction, problem or bad circumstance lately but, I know beyond the suffering my goals await and what I am going through will not last much longer,amen🙏

 

[fizzyjoe]

But there was so empathy from his so-called friends. According to them Job was to blame for all the calamities which descended on him.

yes indeed some friends they were...
came all that way to see him and basically just Stared at him thinking on what could he have done for God to punish him so, but, in the end they were wrong and I do find it interesting that only 1 pf his friends Did Not have to give unto Job because he Glorified God, while his other friends merely tried to put him down when he was already down in the first place

 

[SunshineGirl]

yes indeed some friends they were...
came all that way to see him and basically just Stared at him thinking on what could he have done for God to punish him so, but, in the end they were wrong and I do find it interesting that only 1 pf his friends Did Not have to give unto Job because he Glorified God, while his other friends merely tried to put him down when he was already down in the first place

I just think it's amazing how Job kept the faith though all that. He certainly loved God and God loved him more. His life was so much better at the end. It's amazing to see how God worked in this one man. Satan tried everything he could to bring that man down but he was no match for God who brought Job back up. The relationship between Job and God at the end of all that must have been so strong 🥰

 

[SunshineGirl]

oh I have been thinking of Job lately...
ever since Christmas I have had Bronchitis,back pain and joint pain and what helps me through is remembering that Job went through worse, just the boils from head to toe is nowhere near the same, Job was truly strong willed and in a way an inspiration to me,I have been facing many an affliction, problem or bad circumstance lately but, I know beyond the suffering my goals await and what I am going through will not last much longer,amen🙏

Back pain isn't nice I feel for you 🥰 warm baths and heat pads always seem to help me. Also I find swimming really helps.
God will help you 🥰🙏

 

[SunshineGirl]

But there was so empathy from his so-called friends. According to them Job was to blame for all the calamities which descended on him.

I think that's one way the devil seems to work getting into Jobs so call friends, his wife. To leave him broken just like he tries it with all us today. But just like Job we have God/Jesus always with us 🥰

 

[fizzyjoe]

I just think it's amazing how Job kept the faith though all that. He certainly loved God and God loved him more. His life was so much better at the end. It's amazing to see how God worked in this one man. Satan tried everything he could to bring that man down but he was no match for God who brought Job back up. The relationship between Job and God at the end of all that must have been so strong 🥰

Amen often people dislike that book of the Bible because of Job's suffering, because it sounds so sad and miserable but, in truth it's a testimony of what we all should aspire to, and Job is not the only such one to suffer, or be tested, some of the most valiant individuals even were not what one would call...
righteous, loyal or honorable at first like Saul later named Paul he is one individual who by all accounts deserved to be killed but, Jesus saw him as a vassal to serve, blinded him then gave him one chance at redemption he accepted and from then on he did not go against Jesus anymore a good example of God/Jesus having mercy and even such a wicked person can indeed choose to serve Jesus and be spared evil even when they didn't deserve such mercy

 

[SunshineGirl]

I can see why people would dislike the book of Job and it can be hard to read but he is definitely one of my 'Great people' in the bible 🥰
Saul/Paul To me it shows no matter how low/evil a person gets God can and will always step in.

It would be nice to hear about some of your 'Great People' from the bible?
Why is that person so Great to you?
And you can't all just write Jesus hehe 🥰

 

[JaumeJ]

I think of that passage often because it's rather rare and a learning experience because if we go further with it we can consider ourselves and what we feel may hinder us from serving God/Jesus but,ask and ye shall receive unless as you point out God/Jesus has left the presumed issue for a purpose for perhaps motivation, strength or some reason we may not comprehend, I myself have been rather seizure free due to asking God/Jesus to remove that affliction particularly mind wise,quite the blessing and I'm grateful, yet after this I have comsidered that some other hurt to my person I should live with or manage because while painful or difficult at times they are still merely skin deep so to speak, and I am quite the determined individual so it doesn't keep me down unless I have a prior affliction like sickness, sometimes I think my suffering or pain does enpower me because it reminds me that I have chosen my path and if I'm to be serious and walk it as I intend then I can't be making so many excuses anymore as I did when I was younger

I do not thank God for your illness(es), but I do thank Him for you, and I thank Him always for everything. Something I have learned which calms me, and also gives me greater faith and hope and love, isin my late years I realize the flesh has to be shed, and dthe process is the same for llm perhaps in different manner but basically the same.
When I lost useable vision inf one ey, I thanked our blessed Father offering Him the other should it be His will while admitting I would rather have totally perfect vision. The good eye has been waning for about 35 years,but somehow I have managed to adjust.
Much of that adjusting wass the blessing of Magenta giving me a trick or two with helps on the PC.
This said, with first cervical artrosis followed by gneral osteoarthritis, I thanked the Fathere, and everthing is just fine. He loves even me, and this in itself is a great miracle. He lead me to YouTube chiropracters, and they have helped me to improve my lot by various exercises which have alleviated much the shoulders, knees and hips. What I have mentioned to other elerlies is to never sop moving because when you do, you will not be able to.

All the above is not generated by my ability or great intelligence (lol), no it is the guidance from above directly and from other.

God bless you always. I see you already are of a mind to be the same, so this is simply to underscore your already strong manner of living in our

 

[notmyown]

I have pondered this of late particularly because I am thinking back upon my own past and how I have gradually changed from unfeeling and intensive to more compassionate and empathetic towards similar individuals with similar circumstances in their past...
but, more to the point what does the Bible tell us?
is suffering or hardship like a key to empathy or can one find empathize without so much of tough circumstances?
feel free to share passages that to come to mind and discuss😀🙏

there's this:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Cor 1:3-4)

just one of the many ways God uses our afflictions. i think these verses are pointing to what you're saying.

ps-- 2 Corinthians is a good letter for those who are suffering.