A Call to Compassion
At some point in life, you might have experienced some sort of depression. Perhaps you’re still fighting through it, or you know someone who is. The journey can be difficult, and the pain is very real for those who suffer from it.
When someone goes through depression, they can’t help but feel long periods of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in life. Whatever the cause may be, the last thing we’d want is for them feel alone and isolated. We may not be experts, but we care and we want to help them through it.
It was estimated that in the Philippines alone, around 3.3 million Filipinos suffer from depressive disorders. The numbers could be higher than what was recorded, but the fact of the matter remains —when we fail to see how each life is valuable to God, we fall into the trap of unconsciously treating depression with indifference.
Jesus had compassion without fault. When He went out to seek the lost, He was ready to leave the 99 of the “okay” sheep and go after the “not-okay” one (Matthew 18:12-14). He willingly spent time with people who were rejected by society and even dined with them (Mark 2:15-17). When He saw a large crowd, He saw hurting people and had compassion for them.
Compassion didn’t end when He felt bad for the people in pain. It moved Him to heal them, feed them, and protect them (Matthew 9:36, Mark 8:2-3, Matthew 14:14, John 18:8-9).
What does compassion look like?
Think about it —in a world of indifference, compassion makes a world of a difference.
Compassion doesn’t just say its hi and hello’s — it takes the time to listen and give full attention to someone who needs it.
Compassion doesn’t just dismiss people or throw a well-prepared spiel — it seeks to understand emotions wherever they come from.
Compassion isn’t convenient — it sticks around like a brother even when times are tough.
Compassion doesn’t just sit around and try to determine what’s wrong — it goes out of its way to do the best it can do to help.
In the midst of depression, compassion is key.
No one is born in a perfect family, perfect environment, or a perfect culture. The world may be marred by brokenness, apathy and stigma, but we can choose to go against the flow. Choose to be someone who is quick to listen and slow to judge. Someone quick to check in on people and slow to give up on them. Quick to offer help without expecting anything in return. We can choose to be like Jesus.
We may not have all the answers or know exactly what to say at all times. We look to professionals to help us journey through it as well. But when we know someone isn’t okay, let’s walk with them. Reach out and be a friend. And if you feel you need someone to talk to — know that we’re ready to listen.
God gives us a family to walk with and we can find it in church. If we think church is for the “already strong” and “already perfect” people, we miss the point. Even Jesus once said it is not the well who needs the doctor but the sick. He didn’t call the righteous, He called the sinners to walk with Him (Luke 5:31,32). That’s us —and yet He invites us. Now that’s compassion that makes a difference.