October 30: WHO FEELS IT KNOWS IT!

Sharon Campbell-Danvers 
Kings Seventh-day Adventist Church 

WHO FEELS IT KNOWS IT!

WHO FEELS IT KNOWS IT!

Key Text: Romans 12:15 (KJV)

“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”

There is a familiar Caribbean expression that carries a powerful message: “Who feels it knows it!” And how true those words are!

Pain is something we cannot always fully understand, especially when we are not the ones experiencing it. What may seem insignificant to one person can be deeply hurtful to another. What one person recovers from quickly may take someone else months or even years to overcome.

Yet sometimes we are quick to tell people how they should feel, how long they should grieve, or when they should move on. We say things like, “You should be over that by now,” “It's not that serious,” or “Other people have been through worse.” But have we considered how those words might affect someone who is already hurting?

Just because something would not hurt you deeply does not mean it cannot break someone else's heart.

Pain comes in many forms: physical suffering, disappointment, rejection, betrayal, grief, and the silent struggles people carry behind their smiles. Two individuals can experience similar situations and respond very differently. One may recover quickly, while another struggles for a long time.

Healing does not follow the same timetable for everyone.

Consider Mary and Martha following the death of their brother Lazarus. Both were grieving, and both expressed their sorrow to Jesus. When Jesus saw Mary weeping and the others mourning, He was deeply moved. John 11:35 tells us, “Jesus wept.”

Jesus knew Lazarus would be raised, yet He did not dismiss their sorrow. He entered into their grief.

Jesus did not tell them to stop crying simply because He knew the story was not finished.

What a beautiful example of compassion!

Romans 12:15 encourages us to weep with those who weep. It does not instruct us to measure their pain, question their tears, or compare their suffering with someone else's. It calls us to show empathy.

Sometimes people do not need another explanation, another opinion, or another reminder to be strong. They simply need someone who will listen without judging, acknowledge their pain, and offer genuine support.

Perhaps you have experienced pain that others minimized because they could not understand its depth. Perhaps you have smiled in public while struggling privately.

People may see your tears, but they do not always know the weight of what caused them.

That is why we must be careful with our words and patient with one another. Compassion does not require us to experience the same pain. It requires us to recognize that another person's suffering matters.

Before telling someone to move on, consider what they may still be carrying. Before judging their recovery, remember that you have not walked every step of their journey.

WHO FEELS IT KNOWS IT! You may not understand the depth of another person's pain, but you can still choose to treat it with compassion.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give me a compassionate heart. Forgive me for the times I have minimized another person's pain. Help me listen patiently, speak kindly, and offer comfort without judgment. Strengthen those who are hurting and remind them of Your loving presence. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Reflection

Have you ever felt that someone underestimated your pain? Have you done the same to someone else?

Today, reach out to someone who may be hurting. Listen without judging or rushing their healing.

Remember: You do not have to feel someone's pain to respect it. Sometimes the greatest comfort is simply knowing that someone cares.

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Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), unless otherwise indicated. Brief hymn excerpts, where included, are used for devotional reflection. All hymn copyrights remain the property of their respective authors, composers and publishers.