Episode 3: Compassion, Empathy and the Heart of God
Women often get negatively stereotyped as being highly emotional, but our sensitivity, empathy and relational capacity are far from weakness. These aspects of our character reflect God’s heart for his people. Compassion, sensitivity. (Featuring Rebecca Hatton)

Scripture: Isaiah 49:13-16, Isaiah 66:12-13, Matthew 26:6-13, Matthew 27:55-61

Questions:
1) Read Isaiah 49:14-16 and Isaiah 66:12-13 together. In these passages, God compares his compassion for his people to that of a mother’s compassion for her child. Do you have a hard time seeing God as a God of mercy and compassion? Why or why not?
2) Not only do we see the fingerprints of God’s compassion and mercy in Old Testament passages like these, but we also see the perfect portrayal of God’s compassion and mercy in the person of Jesus Christ. If you study Jesus’ life and ministry, you will quickly realize he was a person of immense compassion and mercy. Do you tend to see your compassion and empathy as a God-given strength? Why or why not?
3) How has the negative portrayal of women as being “too emotional” affected the way you see yourself? In what areas of your life have you encountered this stereotype?
4) What does it look like to have healthy empathy with boundaries? How can we resist being ruled by our emotions and/or being taken advantage of by other people?
5) Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. Where do you need the Lord to grow compassion in you? What person (or group of people) is the Lord calling you to have more compassion for?