Thursday, December 14, 2023

The month of December presents various forms of traditions—including cultural and generational customs. For Christians, it means the season of advent has arrived. It is a time for communities of faith and families to embrace the true meaning of Jesus’ birth. For many, that is where faith in God takes its first step.

If not for God’s undeniable demonstration of compassion, possessing an undying hope would be impossible. It is, for me, a perpetual hope made possible through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

It is with deep gratitude to God that Advent 2023 has started significantly less challenging than last year’s for me. It can only be God’s compassion for me that has brought me thus far in a journey I would wish on no one. Were it not for the hope and strength God has abundantly supplied, accepting the unacceptable would have been impossible.

Though it looks different for each of us, we all face challenges that cause us to draw on the deep well of Christ’s compassion for us so that we can extend it to others. Following are some prayers you may find helpful if you are in a difficult place this year:

Give me the courage and determination, Lord, to extend genuine love, your love, to my enemy.

Empower me, Lord, to always remember, “love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).

Lord, help me remember Proverbs 10:12, “Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.”

God, remind me regularly of the dilemma Joseph faced with his hateful, jealous brothers and his response to them: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.” May Joseph’s response become my default response, every time evil appears.

God, thank you, for offering compassion to me countless times. Help me extend it to others as I cling to this verse: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 NASB).

Though not an easy lesson, I praise God for teaching me about his compassion for me and for encouraging me to extend it to others. It is my sincere prayer that this exercise will do the same for you.

Questions:
Do you struggle with accepting compassion from others? Do you struggle with accepting compassion from God? Do you struggle with offering compassion to others? Do you choose serenity in the midst of a storm?

Next Steps:
Check out this article to increase your understanding of Advent. Take time to learn more about compassion from the Bible. Praise and thank God for the compassion he offered you. Memorize a verse about compassion and choose to offer it to others even when it doesn’t feel like they “deserve” it.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me get it right when it comes to compassion. Help me understand the “whys” when gaping holes exist in my capacity to offer compassion to others. Please continue to arrange circumstances that offer opportunities to step into life’s messiness, allowing all involved to be stretched and moved in God-honoring ways. Thank you for repeatedly demonstrating and offering me your compassion. Empower me to quickly recycle life’s hurts into sincere understanding and compassion for others. In the precious name of Jesus, amen.

Parent resource:
Read Luke 2:9 together as a family. What would you do if a brilliant angel from God appeared in your home? Share how you would react.

This post was written by Karen Peck, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut.