Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Bible in a Year: Proverbs 4 | Philippians 4
Characteristics of God: He is compassionate.
Recently, I went to a dance performance at Oak Harbor High School. The performance was Alice: Looking for Wonderland. It was a beautiful story that paralleled Alice in Wonderland about a girl who discovers wonder.
In the last act, before Alice wakes up to reality, the lights go dark, and the performance pauses for a good two to three minutes. I quickly realized the purpose of the darkness and silence before the awakening happened. My fellow performance-goers, not so much - papers shuffled, people moved uncomfortably, one lady turned on her flashlight to look at the playbill, and it seemed like many were getting ready to leave their seats.
I imagine that’s how we would all look without Jesus’ light in our lives - uncertain. But God doesn’t want us to be confused and helpless.
Matthew 9:36
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Compassion is one of the many soft-hearted characteristics of God. It is most evident in the way that a perfect God withholds the punishment that we deserve. It is by his grace and ability, not our own, that we are saved and healed.
Psalm 145:8-9
The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.
Our Lord is compassionate and merciful because his love is constant - even when we fail to be obedient, disappoint other people, falter in our faith, despair over our circumstances, complain to him, and doubt him. We cannot diminish or exhaust God’s love for us because it never wavers.
Just like the pause in the performance, there are times in our lives when everything feels uncertain and we’re left waiting in the dark. It can be uncomfortable and confusing, and we might struggle to understand what God is doing.
Yet, these moments are not without purpose. God’s compassion meets us right there in the silence and waiting. His love is steady, even when we can’t see the way forward.
When life feels overwhelming or disappointing, we’re invited to trust in God’s love and let that compassion shape the way we respond to ourselves and others. Even when we falter, God’s constant love brings us hope, light, and a reason to keep moving forward.
Questions:
How have you experienced God's compassion?
What is a way you can share compassion toward others?
Observe how you respond to discomfort. Do you respond with impatience, avoidance, despair, complaint, or a different emotion?
Next Steps:
Use the Daily in the CedarCreek App to practice gratitude.
Prayer:
I love you, God. You are a God of compassion. Your love is never exhausted. I pray you would show me how to respond out of praise. Some circumstances in life may seem like punishment, but I see that you are working through my circumstances. I praise you, God. You are good, and I see you as a loving God despite whatever I may be facing today. Amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Jeremiah 9:23-24a
This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord….”
Written by Becca Roberts, a West attendee and regular contributor to the Daily.