When the Rain Won’t Stop: A Devotional on Empathy in Action

 

“When the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her and He said, ‘Don’t cry.’”
— Luke 7:13 (NIV)

This morning, it’s raining.
Not the gentle kind—but the kind that lingers, soaks, and weighs heavy.

It’s been raining for over twelve hours. The front ditch in my yard is full, and as of last night around 9 p.m., Tuscaloosa had already received 3.2 inches of rain. Now it’s 9 in the morning, and it’s still coming down.

Rain has a way of matching what life sometimes feels like.

I’m a single mom now. I carry every bill—our tiny home, lot rent, gas, water, trash, groceries—on top of everything I was already paying before life shifted. And no matter how carefully I plan, I find myself short very quickly each month.

So I work deliveries. Walmart. DoorDash. Amazon. Roadie. Whatever keeps us moving forward.

Just a couple nights ago, I had to borrow $50 on my card just to keep my car insurance active—because without a car, I can’t work. That means every dollar I earn this weekend goes back to covering that before I can even think about lot rent or the house payment I still haven’t been able to make.

Still, this morning I got up early. I listened closely to the rain tapping on my tin roof and told myself, “Okay, Billie Jo. You can do this.”

I accepted an order—long miles, multiple drops, and rain that kept getting heavier. I almost canceled. But I didn’t.

By the time I reached the third delivery, the customer messaged me that her family was sick and asked me to leave the groceries outside. When I replied that I hoped they felt better, I meant it.

And then the Holy Spirit nudged me: Be empathetic today.

So I opened my Bible app and searched for what God says about empathy. I landed on a familiar but powerful story.

In Luke 7:11–15, Jesus encounters a widow whose only son has died. She is grieving, walking behind his coffin, overwhelmed by loss and loneliness.

Scripture tells us:

“When the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her…”
— Luke 7:13

Jesus didn’t just notice her pain.
He didn’t just feel sorry for her.

He acted.

He approached her. He spoke comfort. He touched the coffin. He restored her son to life.

This is the difference between sympathy and empathy.

• Sympathy says, “I feel bad for you.”

• Empathy says, “I will move toward you.”

Empathy always has action.

That morning, I carried heavy bags up a muddy hill in pouring rain. Yes—it was my job. But empathy showed up when I opened the door so a sick woman wouldn’t have to struggle. When I spoke kindness. When I cared.

The Bible reminds us:

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
— 1 John 3:18

Sometimes empathy looks like physical help.
Sometimes it looks like patience.
Sometimes it looks like prayer.

We live in a world where saying, “I’ll pray for you,” is sometimes dismissed. But prayer is not passive. Prayer is action.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
— Galatians 6:2

I am praying for that family. And I’m not ashamed to say it—because prayer is one of the deepest forms of empathy.

A few months ago, someone showed empathy to me and my children. They didn’t just feel sorry for our situation—they helped. And I will always remember that kindness.

So today, let me ask you:

• Can you help the overwhelmed mom in the grocery store?

• Can you lend a hand to the elderly person loading groceries?

• Can you slow down, notice, and act?

Or maybe empathy looks like this:

• Buying a coat for someone who’s cold

• Offering a warm drink

• Saying a prayer—and meaning it

Jesus tells us:

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
— Matthew 25:40

Where is God asking you to move from sympathy to empathy today?

Lord, help me not only to see the pain around me but to respond with action. Soften my heart like Yours. Teach me to love the way You love—fully, compassionately, and without hesitation. Amen.

The rain may keep falling. Life may feel heavy. But empathy—real, active, Christ-centered empathy—has the power to bring light into the storm.

Go and be that light today. 💛

Billie Jo is a mom and homesteader navigating faith, survival, and starting over. Through honest storytelling, she shares encouragement for anyone rebuilding life in hard seasons and learning to trust God one day at a time.
Honest words from a hard season, written in faith and hope.