Is Being An Empath A Spiritual Gift From God? We are all naturally predisposed to empathize with others via the front insular cortex of our brains.
This insular cortex allows us to see the world through the eyes of others and experience what they are feeling.
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Is Being An Empath A Spiritual Gift From God?
We may become one with someone else’s anguish, experience what they’re feeling, and know what they’re actually thinking. Empathy is more than just being able to understand what they are going through intellectually.
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Empathy extends beyond that and includes them in the experience. We shall celebrate alongside those who joy and cry alongside those who weep. It is the foundation for the deep human connection that we all want.
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What Does The Bible Say About Being Empathetic?
1 Peter 3:8 ESV Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
Romans 12:10,15-16 ESV Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
The Importance Of Empathy As Christians
Empathy displays God’s infinite love, kindness, and compassion for all of us. God exhibited this several times throughout the Bible, probably most strongly when Jesus grieved with those who mourned Lazarus’ death (John 11:17-44).
ESV John 11:33,35 When Jesus observed her sobbing and the Jews who had accompanied her weeping, he was greatly affected and distressed. Jesus sobbed.
We fulfill the “law of Christ” through empathizing with and enduring one other’s burdens.
6:2 Galatians ESV Carry one another’s burdens in order to follow Christ’s commandment.
We live in a society where expressing sensitive sentiments is regarded as socially inappropriate or weak. “Put your best face forward” and “take care of yourself first,” we’re taught.
People in the coming days will be “lovers of self,” “proud,” and “heartless,” as the Bible forewarned – all attributes that do not encourage empathy.
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ESV 2 Timothy 3:1-5 But keep in mind that there will be times of difficulty in the last days.
People will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappealable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, appearing to be godly but denying its power.
Stay away from such folks.
This tendency has the potential to infect the Christian community as well. We might claim to adore God, who is merciful and compassionate.
However, if we do not follow His example of tenderhearted empathy for those who are suffering, injured, or lost, we just display an “appearance of godliness,” but not its capacity to love people as God loves.
We might be prone to viewing other people’s troubles superficially and not genuinely understanding what they are going through on the inside if we do not practice empathy.
Everyone’s anguish, guilt, and self-condemnation are extremely real to them, no matter how little or odd their difficulties appear to us.
If we are not cautious, Satan will entice us to throw their emotions aside and advise them to “pray more,” “try harder,” “count your blessings,” or “just go on,” compounding the sense of detachment they already experience. Even if it is not our aim, we might come across as careless and ungracious.
Empathy necessitates that we lay aside our own preferences. It is a demonstration of humility, self-sacrifice, patience, and kindness.
Sometimes just feeling empathy is all that is required to get back on their feet. The talent of empathy is extremely strong.
ESV 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is kind and patient; it does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or disrespectful.
It does not insist on having its own way; it is not irritated or resentful; it does not exult in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears everything, believes everything, hopes everything and suffers everything.
- Empathy Can Be Tainted.
Those of us who have been given the gift of empathy, mercy, or compassion have an XL-sized ability to feel from God.
In a metaphorical sense, it’s as if we’ve been given two vessels in our hearts: one to feel our own emotions and another to experience the emotions of others.
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If we use our talent effectively, we can empathize with people without being overwhelmed.
Some of us may find ourselves utilizing both vehicles to express our feelings. As a result, if there is a hint of rejection or humiliation, we suffer emotional overload.
We may find it difficult to discern other people’s sentiments from our own if we have not yet learned how to grasp this talent.
We may come to dislike, avoid, or reject our feelings over time and decide that:
- βI have to close my heart in order to protect myself.β
- βI canβt trust people again. I need to avoid them.β
- βI canβt share what I sense through empathy in case people reject me.β
- βThis pain is so intense, I might as well die.β
- βGod didnβt protect my feelings. He doesnβt care.β
We may even turn against ourselves.
2. Turning empathy inwardly rather than outwards
Alternatively, we might focus our ability to empathize with ourselves. We develop an unhealthy pattern of being guided by our emotions and find it difficult to follow God’s teachings.
- βMy feelings are always right. They show me the truth. I feel lonely today. Therefore, I must be abandoned by people and by God.β
- βI live with such intense feelings that no one can really understand or connect with me.β
- βI only feel alive when I can perceive some sensational or exciting emotion.β
- βThese feelings are so painful, I must be a victim, not a conqueror in Christ.β
Romans 8:37-39 ESV No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
3. Using the gift to our advantage
When we are not directed by the Holy Spirit in our compassion, we might inadvertently utilize our capacity to read another person’s emotional state of mind to persuade them to go along with our fleshly goals.
We may even believe we are doing something good in the name of “helping,” “caring,” or “seeking justice” when, in reality, we are attempting to persuade people to follow us rather than God.
We use the talent to our advantage since we know exactly what other people are thinking or feeling. Such impulses are sinful.
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- βI can easily manipulate and control people because I know exactly what they are thinking or feeling.β
- βBased on what they are really thinking or feeling, I feel more righteous than them.β
- βWhy canβt other people have the ability to feel like I do? They are so limited.β
4. Creating unhealthful partnerships
Another way the gift of empathy may be tainted is when we allow ourselves to become so engrossed in empathizing with others that we lose sight of who we are. We can even create sinful connections or obsessions with persons with whom we empathize.
- βI feel these emotions from that person. He or she must also do the same for me.β
- βI find this personβs feelings and thoughts fascinating. I canβt stop thinking about him or her.β
- βI can feel so much of that personβs emotions, I must be in love with him/her.β
You’ll see that there are several gifts, and they aren’t even all stated. Your talent of empathy is given to you so that you can assist others in need since you understand their anguish.
It is apparent from the verses that we are given gifts to employ for the glory of God. You should not keep it to yourself since it is for the benefit of others and the church.
You are clearly designed to guide and assist individuals in misery and agony since you understand precisely how they feel. It is a one-of-a-kind present, so make the most of it! God bless you!
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FAQ
What Does God Say About Empathy?
Is Being Sensitive A Gift From God?
Because spiritual sensitivity is a charism, God is very much present with us while we are using it. He imparts his own love for another person to us, enabling us to love them much more intensely than we could on our own.
What Is The Gift Of Being An Empath?
I accept these feelings to help me get a better understanding of myself and the world around me. Being empathetic allows me to be highly perceptive with myself, which helps me to cope with and manage my mental health issues. Being an empath is, in my opinion, the most beautiful and wonderful strength.
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