God is Compassionate

“The Lord, the Lord God, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” – Exodus 34:6

When God reveals Himself to Moses, the first thing God says is that He is compassionate. The thing most central to His character is that He has compassion and mercy toward us.
 
We don’t serve an angry God. We’re not trying to earn His compassion by good works. He freely gives us what we need even though we don’t deserve it. This is who God is.
 
Think of the person you love most on this earth. You probably have deep compassion for them when they’re going through a hard time. You feel their pain, and you wish you could help them out. God’s love and compassion for you is infinitely greater than the compassion you feel for anyone on this earth. AND He is God, so He can actually act out of His compassion for us and help us.

God’s compassion for His kids is a deeply rooted love and concern for our well-being. It’s His feeling towards us. Sometimes when we’re going through tough circumstances, we think that God is indifferent towards us. Yeah we know God loves us, but He couldn’t possibly care about this thing I’m going through. Wrong. Actually, indifference is an antonym of compassion. The things that hurt you cause God pain too. He hates to see his kids suffer.
 
Knowing that God is never indifferent toward your suffering should change the way you pray. You’re not trying to convince God of how terrible your situation is. You don’t need to give Him a list of reasons of why you deserve His help. You already have his full attention. God is gracious by nature, and it gives Him great joy to give to us. So, come before Him with confidence that He wants you to be living in the fullness that He has for you.

Do you realize that when you talk to God, it’s a conversation in relationship with Him? You’re not just leaving Him a voicemail and hoping He might possibly listen to it. He’s sitting face to face with you, listening and speaking out of love. He responds to your prayers. He wants you to partner with Him and ask for His help because that’s who He is. Your prayers change things because you’re in relationship with God. You’re not a peasant presenting your requests to an angry king. You’re a worthy child talking to your loving Father about what you need.

My favorite way to relate to God is to see Him as Father. He is the most perfect Father and I’m His little girl. To receive God’s compassion, I think it’s so important to understand the Father heart of God. God as Father to me means that He is constant. There is nothing I can do for Him to love me any more or less. He is always there. Ready to listen. He is perfectly patient. He is strong, yet gentle and kind. He is comforter, provider, & protector.

So when you come before God, imagine yourself as a little kid sitting with Abba Father. Know that He always has deep compassion for you, He absolutely adores you, and He loves to provide for you in times of need.
 
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7

Author | Sam Forbes