Empathy

Jesus wept. — John 11:35

Jesus wept with others weeping. He knew he could raise Lazarus. He knew he would raise Lazarus. He absorbed the allegations made by Martha, then Mary: "What took you so long?" And their grief moved him deeply.

Unlike Jesus, I rarely know the outcome. But I often feel the pain.

Practice

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. — 1 Corinthians 9:25

Some people seem to have never been denied anything, while most of us have faced plenty of denial. Our parents have said no. Our bank accounts say no. Rules and laws say no—denied! Yet how often do we tell ourselves no, especially when saying yes would be perfectly acceptable? The Teacher challenges us to deny ourselves. We are called to practice putting our appetites on a diet—not to earn favor or avoid punishment, but to cultivate self-control and make space for spiritual longing to grow.

Faux Confidence

I trust sincere question-askers more than careless statement-makers. People are complicated. Life is complex. The universe is vast. God is far greater than his creation. We come to know by being curious, approaching subjects with humility and a taste for discovery.