You’re never going to live in harmony with your wife, your husband, your friends, or anybody else without empathy. You can’t have a team without being aware of what’s happening in each other’s lives. That’s why when people work together in an office, they may do work together, but they’re not a team unless they know what’s going on in each other’s lives.
Empathy is so important because it meets two of our deepest needs: the fundamental need to be understood and a deep need to have our feelings validated.
If you’re going to build a team of friends or at work or in your small group, you have to build empathy into the structure. So how do you become an empathetic person?
1. Slow down.
Because our culture teaches us to move fast, we end up relationally skimming. That means you’re hitting the high points and missing all kinds of details in the lives of people you care about most. James 1:19 says, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry” (NLT, second edition).
2. Ask questions.
Proverbs 20:5 says, “A person’s thoughts are like water in a deep well, but someone with insight can draw them out” (GNT). Most people hold their emotions pretty close, and they don’t automatically share how they’re doing. “I’m fine” is the standard answer, but that doesn’t really tell you how they feel.
If you ask, “How are you doing?” and the other person says, “I’m fine,” here’s how you draw out a more telling response: Learn to ask the question twice. That’s how you develop empathy. Pause and say, “No. How are you really doing?”
The other thing you do is learn to linger. That means don’t be afraid of silence. Just be in the moment, ask the question, and don’t be afraid to sit there and wait. Don’t immediately go into your agenda. Just listen and learn.
3. Show emotions.
The Bible says in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (NASB). Empathy is more than saying, “I’m sorry you hurt.” It’s saying, “I hurt with you.” You’re willing to cry with them, and you’re willing to rejoice with them.
There’s only one way you’re going to be that empathetic — stay filled up with God. If your tank gets low on God, you’re not going to be empathetic at all. You’ve got to stay filled up with God.
“All of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude” (1 Peter 3:8 NIV).
WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
Wednesday Bible Studies with Debbie Woodard is on Facebook Live. Elizabeth Hunter is on Zoom. Please contact Elizabeth for the code to join her study. These are two wonderful studies you won't want to miss.
Thursday Night Bible Study and Prayer at 7:00pm with Richard Baisden on Zoom. Meeting id: 96804144773
Sunday Morning Sunday School with Debbie Woodard is from 9:00-9:45 on Zoom. The Meeting id: 852143427
Sunday Morning and through out the week your children can enjoy wonderful video's from our Children's Department on our Church Facebook page.
Work Project available for all ages here around the church. Please contact Pastor.
Food and helpers are needed for the Food Pantry. Ruth Inzer UMC will be partnering with us. Please bring food to the church office.
Please help us by staying faithful in your giving. You can give online through Givlify, Pay-Pal or mail your checks to the church.
A Private Family Memoral Service will be held for Kenneth Davis this Sunday. Please keep Betty and the family in your prayers.
Have a blessed week and know that Kelly and I are praying for you,
Blessings,
Mike and Kelly
