Empathy

Does God Have Empathy?
Does God use sickness or tragedies to punish people for their sins?
Does God Care?
WHAT CREATION TEACHES US
Empathy is defined as “the ability to share someone else’s feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in that person’s situation.”
CONSIDER: Why are we endowed with empathy, a quality unmatched in any other species? The Bible explains that God created humankind in his image. ( Genesis 1:26 ) We are made in the image of God in that we can reflect his personality and thus display a measure of his fine qualities. Hence, when empathy moves caring people to help others, they mirror the empathy of their compassionate Creator, God. Proverbs 14:31 .
WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT GOD’S EMPATHY
God has empathy for us and hates to see us suffer. Regarding the people of ancient Israel who endured harsh slavery in Egypt followed by 40 difficult years in the wilderness the Bible says: “During all their distress it was distressing to him.” (Isaiah 63:9 ) Note that God was not merely aware of their distress. He could feel their pain. “I well know the pains they suffer,” he stated. ( Exodus 3:7 ) “Whoever touches you,” says God, “touches the pupil of my eye.”When others hurt us, his heart aches with ours.
The Bible assures us that even though we may feel self-condemned and unworthy of God’s empathy, “God is greater than our hearts and knows all things.”God knows us better than we know ourselves. He is fully aware of all our circumstances, thoughts, and feelings. He has empathy for us.
We can look to God for comfort, wisdom, and support, knowing that he comes to the aid of those who are DISTRESSED
GOD NOTICES, UNDERSTANDS, AND FEELS FOR US:
How comforting it is to know that God understands and feels for us! But why, then, is there so much suffering? Is it because God is punishing us for wrongdoing? Will God do anything to end all suffering? These matters will be addressed in the following articles.