05092026 Compassionate Knowledge

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our compassionate God. This week I found comfort in considering three stages of God’s compassion. I think you will find this to be a blessing.

First, God has compassion because He knows how weak we are. “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust” (Psalm 103:13-14). God knows our weak frame, made of dust. That is a very personal knowledge. God knows our weak frame when it comes to our heart, our brain, our gut, our knees, our back, our chronic conditions, our recurring illnesses, our hormones, and every other part of us. The combination of weak spots is unique to each of us (and changes through the years); God knows the peculiar weakness of our distinct mixture of frailties.

God has known our unique weaknesses from the very beginning. “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:16). God knows how our weaknesses are stretched or aggravated along the journey. “When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path” (Psalm 142:3). “But he knoweth the way that I take” (Job 23:10). God knows all of this because it is all according to His design, plan, oversight, and orchestration.

Second, God’s compassion makes Him receptive to our prayers and desirous to help us. Jesus learned something of weakness and of the temptations that accompany human frailty. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).

God cares for us in our weakness. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7). “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).  God wants to give us the grace to endure and the strength to continue forward.

Third, God’s compassion makes Him a wonderful refuge for us. Because we are weak, we find ourselves in impossible situations. We are incapable of evaluating and making decisions – incapable of achieving resolutions – often we are incapable even of understanding the basics of what is going on. We find ourselves embroiled “in great matters, … in things too high” for us to figure out (Psalm 131:1). When our brains are too weak, we can lay aside the futile and draining mental exercise, and we can quiet ourselves in God’s care. “Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child” (Psalm 131:2).

I find this picture so helpful in my weakness. I can just sit on God’s lap, so to speak, lean back against Him, and let His arms wrap around me. Meanwhile, He understands everything and can take care of the impossible situation. He takes us into His care and gently shelters us. “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings” (Psalm 61:2,4).

I am weak. God knows that. Because He knows, He cares. Because He cares, He helps. I can place my weak body, my weak mind, my weak emotions, my weak sprit in His care. I can lean back in His embrace, hide in His safe height, dwell safely in His house, and rest snugly secure under His wings. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

May God’s knowledgeable compassion and caring support carry you through your moments of weakness.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA