God’s Compassion
by Christel Baxter
My children are both young adults now and my son, who is the youngest, recently moved to his own apartment as he will be getting married soon. A little while ago he was battling a bad bout of flu, and, as he is living on his own, I found myself feeling sorry for him and just wanting to jump in and rescue him a little. I went to the pharmacy and bought him some vitamins and supplements that would boost his immune system, and invited him for supper to make sure he ate a good meal.
As I was in this process of finding ways to make things a little better for my son, the Lord spoke to me concerning His own Father’s heart for His children. He reminded me of Psalm 103:13, our key scripture. He showed me that, just as I felt compassion and pity for my son who was not doing so well, in the same manner He felt compassion and pity for us as His children, especially when we are battling things in life. He has a compassionate and kind heart towards His children. Verse 14 of Psalm 103 goes on to say, ‘For He knows our frame, He earnestly remembers and imprints on His heart that we are dust’. God is not oblivious of the fact that we are frail human beings who will face struggles and failures and trials that cause us to be weak and overwhelmed sometimes.
Psalm 103:4 says that God ‘redeems your life from the pit and corruption’ and He ‘beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy’. What a beautiful picture of God’s loving heart towards us! His loving kindness and tender mercy actually takes us from the pit, from the place where we are down and out and without hope, and crowns us with beauty and dignity!
God truly loves us and His heart is to see us thrive and excel and prosper. But when we struggle with the things life throws at us, when we fail and fall down, and when we face heartache, He cares, He understands, and He is kind and compassionate towards us. It is such a comfort to be reminded of this beautiful truth! Be encouraged that, no matter what you may be facing at the moment, ‘the Lord is full of pity and compassion and tenderness and mercy’ (James 5:11b).
Prayer: Father, thank You so much that Your heart towards me is full of compassion and kindness, and that I can lean into Your mercy and grace when I feel weak and flawed. Thank You that I can trust Your heart towards me in every season of my life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Christel Baxter joined the Associate prayer ministry team at Shere House, S.Africa in 2008 after attending the 20 day school. Besides serving together on the associate team at Shere House, Christel & her husband, Gary, pastor New Life Ministries, a congregation in Boksburg, Gauteng. Their children, Liezl and Wesley, are both married, and they adore their son-in-law and daughter-in-law and their little granddaughter, Hannah! Christel is passionate about seeing broken lives restored and especially loves ministering God`s love and healing to women of all ages.
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