“Empathy and Sympathy” by: Pastor Fred Snider

“Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.” 2 Timothy 1:4

These two words are often confused and misused. They differ subtly in their emotional meaning.

Sympathy is acknowledging another person’s emotional hardships and providing comfort and assurance.

Empathy is understanding what others are feeling because you have experienced it yourself or can put yourself in their shoes.

They have very similar definitions. Sympathy is understanding the experience of others; empathy is a personal understanding of how the experience of others feels.

Paul has both capabilities. He knows Timothy’s tears and feels them. He “longs” (a deep affection) to see Timothy, which is reciprocated. Timothy shed tears over Paul’s imprisonment. He is sympathetic about Paul’s plight but also empathetic and feels his pain.

In the body of Christ, we as a family of believers should be able to do both. We acknowledge and comfort and reassure each other, but also we understand and feel with and for one another, so much for semantics today. Bottom line, if we can bear and share each other’s burdens it will lighten the corporate and individual loads.

Give it some thought and prayer,
Pastor Fred

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