How To Fight Compassion Fatigue
The number one emotion that Jesus had, recorded in Scripture, was compassion. Because of technology and globalization we live in a world with more access to the brokenness in the earth than ever before. As a result, many of us can begin to feel either a sense of apathetic numbness, or the opposite, and feel a sense of overwhelming anxiety and pessimism. This has only become more acute because of the past two years. Losing our compassion and letting our hearts grow calloused is not the way of Jesus, so we must intentionally let the Holy Spirit lead us into a greater capacity to love.
Here are 5 ways to fight compassion fatigue:
1. Limit your intake. According to a recent study, the average American spends 70 minutes a day taking in the news. Although it may be important to be informed, set a time limit to how much you intake. Maybe, don’t let it be the last thing you do before bed. Before you open up your preferred website or news station, spend time with sitting at the feet of Jesus first
2. Focus your passion. 1 Peter 4:10 says “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” Not every person has the same burning passion, nor the same gifts to address those causes. Don’t compare and contrast compassionate opportunities but rather dedicate yourself to what the Lord has put on your heart.
3. Surrender your burdens. It has never been easy to store up in your own mind and body the concerns and crises that are all around us. 1 Peter 5:7 reminds us to “Cast all your cares on him because he cares for you.” Take some time each day to write out all that has been burdening your soul and then offer it to Jesus.
4. Be present to your circle. Often it can be easier to be moved to compassion for issues that are removed from us while we grow indifferent to those right in front of us. One of the best things we can do is to be aware of those in our path and to live towards them with intentional compassion and love.
5. Be led by the Spirit. I’m so thankful that it is not up to me to sort through all that is happening in my life and in the world. We have the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to lead and guide us into how we can serve, where we should give, how we should pray. Galatians 5:25 reminds us “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”