Welcome to the Determined to Dance podcast with your host, Jennifer Hallmark. Today’s episode, “Perseverance: Empathy in a Chaotic World” focuses on the part empathy plays in our learning to persevere.

Are you ready? The world would have us march to its chaotic beat but God invites us to dance in His will and His way. Let’s take a moment to be energized, refreshed, and motivated to face the day, one spin and twirl at a time.

Show Notes: Perseverance: Empathy in a Chaotic World

Empathy. The ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Now, this is a virtue so needed in the post covid world where we live. We walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. This isn’t taking someone’s place or knowing exactly how a person is feeling. If we’ve never lost a beloved pet, we don’t, per se, know how they feel, but we can relate and share the grief and loss that fills their heart. We can have empathy.

And if we are to persevere and move forward in the dance of life, we need other people. One way we build relationships is by expressing empathy. It’s so comforting to know that someone has come alongside us in our grief or sadness or anger. When a friend or relative takes time from their schedule to make a call, send an email, or even stop by for a visit, our load is a little lighter. For a moment anyway…

In the past eighteen months, there’s been so much judgment and hate that’s circulated through television and social media because of covid, racial issues, and a world that is reeling from the loss of life, security, and hope. Instead of empathy, insensitivity has taken over and is even applauded.

It would be so easy to hide our heads and hearts during these unsettling times. But now, more than ever, we need to share our hope, the one true hope, Jesus Christ. He alone can fill our hearts with love and enable us to show empathy to those around us.

How can we receive the empathy that Jesus has for us so we can give to others?

First, we ask for it. We pray for God to fill our hearts with his love to overflowing. We also immerse ourselves in the Word. As we read about the love of Jesus and others in the Bible, it demonstrates the empathy of God in countless ways. We open ourselves to safe people. We look for the people in our lives that love us unconditionally and allow them to share in our losses and pain.

When my daughter and her husband divorced several years ago, I was devastated. The last thing I needed was someone to judge me or her or him. I didn’t need guilt or shame or even scriptures flung at me. I needed empathy. And I reached out to people who in the past demonstrated that kind of love and mercy and grace that could ease my hurting soul.

You know what I’m talking about. Someone who could understand and share. It meant more to me than they’ll ever know. I want to be there for others. What are ways that we can show empathy to the hurting people around us?

When people are hurting or angry, they usually don’t want answers. They are trying to sort the situation or relationship out and the best thing we can do is listen, showing interest and support.
Withhold judgment. A raw wound doesn’t need salt poured on it. As much as we might want to judge or advise, it’s better to love and pray. Be open to a future time of asking questions.
Show care and concern in physical ways. Send a card. Fix a meal. Call. Offer help. Tangible help is important to people who suffer.
Give them time to grieve. No matter what the issue, if you try to fix it in a hurry, it only buries the hurt and pain. Healing takes time so be prepared to give empathy often, especially after a traumatic event.

I’ve not always done this as well as I’d like. Especially when I’m also hurting. But I want to have more empathy for others. And I’ve learned that I’m encouraged to ask the Father for what I need. Let’s pray:

Father God, we come to You today with a thankful heart. Fill us with your love and help us to see Your heart,