Empathy

The ability to empathize with others requires the ability to identify with the experience of others. If you've never experienced discrimination, oppression, or injustice, it's hard to imagine what that would be like for someone else. How can you walk in the shoes of another if you haven't been where they've stood, fallen, or been victimized?

The Word of God tells us that one of the purposes and blessings of having experienced trials is that we may be able to sympathize with others who go through various trials. It is helpful when we hear the pain of others to remember our own pain, and then try to imagine their experience. Then, stand alongside them, cry with them, mourn with them, sit with them in silence...Whatever is needed. These are tangible ways of loving our neighbors.

"Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God."

II Cor 1:3,4

Ultimately, we may be unable to completely identify with the trials of our neighbors. We would be presumptuous to assume we know the exact trauma of a survivor, but there is One Who does. We can never go wrong in pointing to Him when our neighbors are grieving.

He has "borne our griefs and carried our sorrows," and woos us to Himself, saying, "Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." No one knows our hurts like He does. He lived in flesh and endured all that we experience, yet without sin, and ever lives to make intercession for us on that basis. He is good and He is filled with compassion for us.