The Goodness of Compassion: How Love in Action Transforms Lives

The word compassion comes from the Latin compati, meaning “to suffer with.” True compassion enters another’s pain—allowing their heartbreak to move our hearts and their suffering to move our hands. Scripture reminds us that God is “a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Psalm 86:15 NIV). His compassion flows from his deep and abiding goodness.

Goodness is God’s compassionate love in action—love with its hands to the plow, love that follows in the footsteps of Jesus, who “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38).

The chart below shows the progression from simply acknowledging another’s pain to embodying the goodness that relieves it. Compassion is the fruit of God’s goodness radiating through us. Many people—Christian and non-Christian alike—desire to help those who suffer, but only the goodness of God can transform our compassion into a force that brings true hope and healing to the whole person, beginning with the spirit.

In the Gospels and the early church, compassion wasn’t merely an emotion—it was movement. It crossed roads, touched coffins, shared resources, and opened doors. Scripture gives us vivid portraits of this goodness in action—each showing that compassion is one of the most powerful forces for good in the world.

Let’s explore three stories that reveal how compassion changes everything.

1. Jesus and the Widow of Nain: Compassion That Runs Toward Pain

In Luke 7:11-17, we find Jesus arriving at a small village called Nain, just as a funeral procession is leaving the town gate. The dead man is the only son of a widow, whose loss meant not only heartbreak but likely financial ruin and social isolation.

Jesus, weary from the journey, could have passed by. Instead, He went toward her pain. Scripture says, “And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep’” (Luke 7:13 ESV). Then he touched the coffin, called the young man to rise, and restored him to life—and to his mother.

This is compassion at its purest: God moving toward suffering, not away from it.

But it also reveals God’s heart through us.

❤️ Faith in Action:
Slow down enough to see others’ pain. Ask the Lord, “Who are You calling me to walk toward today?” Listen to his response and look for opportunities to do so. Compassion begins with presence.

2. Barnabas: Compassion That Encourages and Builds Up

Barnabas, whose name means “son of encouragement,” shines as a picture of generous and relational compassion. Acts 11:24 describes him as “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith.”

When others were skeptical of the newly converted Saul (Paul), Barnabas took him under his wing (Acts 9:27). Later, when John Mark failed in ministry, Barnabas gave him a second chance (Acts 15:37–39). His compassion didn’t coddle—it restored. It believed in God’s redemptive work in others, even when others gave up.

Because of Barnabas’s goodness, the early church flourished. His life reminds us that compassion isn’t just about easing suffering; it’s about lifting others up so they can fulfill God’s calling.

💜 Faith in Action:
Who can you give a word of encouragement to today? Be a Barnabas to someone who’s faltering in faith or confidence. Speak life. Offer second chances. Compassion looks like encouragement in action.

3. Dorcas (Tabitha): Compassion That Works Through Our Hands

In Acts 9:36–42, we meet Dorcas, a beloved disciple in Joppa, who was “always doing good and helping the poor.” She used her needle and thread to clothe widows and serve her community. When she died, the believers sent urgently for Peter, who arrived to find her room filled with weeping women holding the garments she had made for them.

Peter prayed, and Dorcas was miraculously raised from the dead—a powerful affirmation that her compassion mattered deeply to God. Her acts of service weren’t forgotten; they were the fabric of her testimony.

Dorcas teaches us that small, consistent acts of goodness ripple far beyond what we see.

💚 Faith in Action:
Ask, “What’s in my hand?” Your skills, time, or talents can be a lifeline for someone in need. Every stitch of kindness counts in God’s Kingdom. How can you serve as a Dorcas and meet a vital need within the body of Christ?

A Compassion That Looks Like Christ

From Jesus to Barnabas to Dorcas, we see that compassion is the visible expression of divine goodness. It bridges heaven and earth—healing the broken, encouraging the weary, and restoring hope.

When the Spirit of God fills our hearts, compassion becomes the natural outflow of his presence within us. As Paul exhorts, “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12 NIV).

True compassion transforms both the giver and the receiver. It invites us into the heart of God, where goodness is not just believed—but lived.

Do you want to learn how to walk in freedom and cultivate God’s goodness in your own life?
Learn more about the fruit of goodness and explore additional thought-provoking posts on our Fruits of Faith Blog. Interested in going deeper in your faith? Consider joining our BibleSpot S.T.A.R.s Discipleship Program, a 90-day intensive study and coaching program beginning in January 2026. We hope to be an encouraging part of your spiritual journey!