Discovering God’s Heart and How We Can Reflect It

Have you ever paused to consider what true compassion looks like? Lately, I’ve felt a gentle tug—a nudge from the Holy Spirit—to dig into the attributes of God, and there seemed no better place to begin than with compassion. This post is the first in a series where we’ll explore the beautiful qualities of God, starting with perhaps the one our world is most desperate for: compassion.

What Is Compassion, Really?

Before we can recognize God’s compassion, we must understand what compassion actually is. According to Merriam-Webster, it’s a “sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.” In other words, compassion isn’t just feeling sorry for someone—it’s being moved enough by their pain to want to help.

Compassion International, a wonderful organization connecting vulnerable children with local churches, takes it even further: “compassion means to see the suffering of others and take action to stop it.”

Even in healthcare research, there’s a growing agreement: compassion is relational. It’s about seeing someone’s suffering, connecting with them, and proactively doing something about it—not because you have to, but because you want to.[1]

One review of the topic breaks compassion down into five elements:[2]

• Recognizing suffering
• Understanding that suffering is universal
• Feeling for the person who is hurting
• Tolerating the discomfort that comes with entering someone else’s pain
• Being motivated to act—and actually acting—to help relieve that suffering

Pretty powerful, isn’t it? And when we look at God through this lens, we see that His compassion is woven into the entire story of the Bible.

God’s Compassion in Action: Examples from the Bible

Let’s rewind all the way to Genesis, where we see God’s compassion for humanity—even in the aftermath of Adam and Eve’s rebellion. Instead of leaving them exposed and ashamed, God Himself made garments from animal skins to clothe them (Genesis 3:21). Yes, there were consequences for their actions, but there was also a promise of redemption (Genesis 3:15). Even in justice, God’s compassion shines through.

Another powerful example is God’s interaction with Hagar, Sarah’s Egyptian servant. Twice, she found herself alone and desperate in the wilderness—once fleeing Sarah’s harshness, and again after being cast out with her son, Ishmael. Both times, God met her in her suffering, spoke kindly to her, renewed hope, and provided for her needs (Genesis 16 & 21).

We also see God’s compassionate heart in the dramatic rescue of Israel from Egyptian slavery through Moses. When God revealed Himself to Moses, He described Himself as “The LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6, NIV). Compassion isn’t just something God does. It’s who He is.

King David, a man after God’s own heart, mirrored this divine compassion. Despite being hunted by Saul, David later showed kindness to Saul’s grandson, Mephibosheth, and cared deeply for his people. Whenever Israel rebelled and then cried out for help, God’s compassion moved Him to rescue them again and again.

And who can forget the story of the prophet Elijah? After a mountaintop victory, Elijah found himself exhausted, fearful, and ready to give up. God didn’t rebuke him for his weakness. Instead, He gave Elijah time to rest and even sent an angel to bring him food (1 Kings 19). That’s compassion in the moments we least expect it.

Jesus: The Ultimate Expression of Compassion

The life and ministry of Jesus Christ is a living, breathing picture of compassion. The Gospels are filled with stories of Jesus moved by the pain of others—healing the sick, feeding hungry crowds, and touching the untouchable. When a man with leprosy came to Him, Jesus didn’t hesitate to reach out and touch him, breaking through stigma and fear (Matthew 14:14-20).

Jesus’ compassion wasn’t just for physical suffering. He saw the outcast, the sinner, the lonely—the woman caught in adultery, the Samaritan woman at the well, the tax collector, the “sinful woman” who wept at His feet. He welcomed those the world rejected and gave them hope, forgiveness, and dignity. His parable of the Good Samaritan wasn’t just a nice story; it was a call for us to see with God’s eyes—and act with God’s heart.

And at the cross, Jesus’ compassion reached its pinnacle. Out of love and mercy, He gave His life to bring us back into relationship with God. That’s compassion in its purest, most powerful form.

Living Compassion: Our Call as Christians

If compassion is at the core of God’s character, it should be at the heart of ours, too. The Bible is clear: “Pure and undefiled religion before God… is to visit orphans and widows in their trouble” (James 1:27). It’s not just about believing the right things—it’s about doing them. James 2:15-16 and 1 John 3:17 remind us that our faith comes alive when we provide food, clothing, and shelter to those who need it.

The early church got this. They sold their possessions and shared so that no one was in need. The Apostle Paul praised the generosity and compassion of the Macedonian church, who gave out of their poverty to help others.

Compassion: A Journey and a Joy

So, why start a series on God’s attributes with compassion? Because when we truly grasp how God sees and loves us, we’re moved to see and love others in the same way. Compassion isn’t just a feeling—it’s a call to action, a reflection of the very heart of God, and an invitation to make a difference in a hurting world.

Stay tuned as we continue exploring the awesome attributes of God. And in the meantime, may we recognize suffering, open our hearts, and step forward in love—just as He does for us.

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[1] Malenfant, Sydney, et al. “Compassion in healthcare: an updated scoping review of the literature.” BMC palliative care 21.1 (2022): 80.

[2] Strauss, Clara, et al. “What is compassion and how can we measure it? A review of definitions and measures.” Clinical psychology review 47 (2016): 15-27.