How To Find Your Balance As a Christian Empath.

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

How can you find your balance as a Christian empath? Is it even possible to find balance as a Christian empath? You feel you empathize, and you absorb everyone’s problems. All this wears you down because of your personality. You can’t help it because that’s who you are. Can you relate? Would you say that you identify with any of these? If you answered yes, how then can you find a balance? Where do you draw the line between feeling other people’s pain and not allowing it to get to you to where you can’t function?

Who is an empath?
Characteristics of a Christian empath.
Examples of Jesus exuding empathy.
What lessons can you draw from Jesus to help you as a Christian empath?
Conclusion.

First off, it’s important to realize that God is the one who gave you these emotions, and it’s a very beautiful thing. You get to reflect the heart of God into the world. God is yours and my creator. He feels every pain we feel and hurts every time we hear. Although He allows it, His wish is not for us to go through pain. But because we live in a fallen world, this is something we just have to live with.

After all, Jesus promised that this world would be full of trials and difficulties. However, He promised He would be there for you and me and He also said that He would never leave us nor forsake us. Also, He sent the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us through it all.
But because God wanted us to find a way out, He sent His son to die for us and this is the greatest display of affection and love for you and me.

Who is an empath?

The term empath comes from empathy, which is the ability to understand the experiences and feelings of others outside of your own perspective. (According to Healthline)

Say your friend just lost their cat of 12 years. Empathy allows you to understand their pain level, even if you’ve never lost a beloved pet.

But as an empath, you take things a step further. You actually sense and feel emotions as if they are a part of your own experience. In other words, someone else’s pain and happiness become your pain and happiness.

Characteristics of a Christian empath.

Absorbs the mood of their surroundings and lets it determine their mood and emotions.
Easily breaks down.
Always rushes to help those in need even if they are strangers.
Has a childlike heart. (Kindly note that there is a difference between childlike and childish.)
Seeks to help lighten the load of others.
Very sensitive
You have a very hard time not caring
You often feel like you don’t fit in. You see the world in unique ways.

While Jesus was on earth, He exuded the character and personality of an empath who is emotionally stable because that’s who He is. He healed the sick, raised the dead, and always did it from a place of pity and a strong desire to want to see people set free. No matter how many times the Jews rejected Him, Jesus still showed them love and preached to them. His concern was for the lost and aching souls.

time to recharge is imperative as an empath

Examples of Jesus exuding empathy.

Despite the fact that Jesus’ time for unveiling had not yet come. He still helped the people when the wine was depleted because His mother asked Him.

Although Jesus came first for the Jews, then the others, when the Syrophoenician woman came to seek her daughters’ healing, Jesus obliged. He knew the daughter needed help, and He gladly gave it, anyway.

When Jesus saw the pain and anguish on Mary and Martha’s faces when they lost their brother, Jesus wept. He did so although He knew He would resurrect him.

Jesus fed the 5000+ men, women, and children because He could see that they were hungry. He did not leave them to fend for themselves.

He also set the man with a legion of demons free because He saw how bound He was.

Jesus redeemed the Samaritan woman because He knew she felt unworthy and wanted to give her her identity back.

Before His death, Jesus prayed for His disciples that they would not get lost, but instead, would be restored. Jesus knew His disciples would desert Him, but still prayed for them.

Jesus took the time to redeem the woman with the issue of blood while He was on His way to heal Jairus’ daughter. And when Jairus found out the daughter had died, Jesus took the time to reassure Him.

Jesus restored the ear of one soldier after Peter had cut it off, despite being among the people who handed Him over to Pilate.

At the cross, Jesus ensured He found a home for his mother Mary. He even instructed John to care for Mary. Here was Jesus at the cross fighting for his life. But He still selflessly ensured that Mary was taken care of when He was gone.

Jesus still died for you and me, although we did not appreciate Him or even believe in the gospel. Can you imagine helping someone and redeeming someone who is not even sorry? That is what Jesus did, and that’s why His word says that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. This was the ultimate act of selflessness and empathy.

What about the time when Jesus restored Peter despite Peter betraying Him? Jesus went and sought Peter and ensured that he knew he was forgiven and that it was time for him to move forward. He could see Peter struggling and He did not want Peter to stay bound by guilt and shame.

Jesus did not want to leave you and me as orphans, and that’s why He sent us the Holy Spirit to be our helper.

These are some examples that show Jesus’ heart as an empath.

What lessons can you draw from Jesus to help you as a Christian empath?

Jesus perfectly modeled healthy empathy and here are some keys we can take from Him.

Do not allow your heart to be hardened.

Jesus faced rejection and persecution, but He never conformed to the world. Instead, He let His empathy be His superpower. Did you know you can do that too? Instead of looking at your personality as a weakness, view it as a strength. This is what makes you stand out and when you allow this part of your life to be revealed, you not only reveal the heart of God to the world but also serve God the best way you can.

Remember, God created you the way He did because He wanted you to reveal an aspect of who He is to the world. And you embrace the fact that you are an empath who does exactly that. Don’t shy away from who you are, don’t fight it. And never forget that God did not make a mistake when He created you. It is okay to feel people’s pain, and it is okay to have a heart that wants to protect and stand up for those who can’t do it for themselves. Be okay with being an empath and celebrate it. You have such a beautiful heart that needs to be guarded.

Creating boundaries will help you as a Christian empath.

Although uncomfortable, it is vital for you to create healthy boundaries. This could be as simple as not putting your trust in a man. Realizing that human beings are fickle and will love you one minute and hate you the next, therefore ensuring that you don’t allow people to take the place of God. Human beings will always disappoint and many will take advantage of your kindness. So don’t chew more than you can swallow.

Creating boundaries also means learning when to say no and being okay with saying no without needing to explain yourself. No is a complete answer. Don’t over-extend yourself too. It is okay if you can not help others. Only Jesus can and you are not Jesus Junior.

You cannot help everyone.

When Jesus saw the Pharisees were stuck on believing in their own ways, He let them be. You will not save everyone and that is okay. Learn to be okay with not helping everyone and instead celebrate the ones who are willing to accept your help. And pray for those who don’t. But remember, as long as you have done what you could, it is okay to let some people slide.

Also, it is okay not to always make peace. Sometimes excusing yourself is the best course of action. You don’t have to always be drained out to be a good person. Not everyone will like you and that is okay. And some people don’t see your help. Why try to convince them? The Pharisees could not see that Jesus wanted to set them free, and He was okay with their decision. There is the aspect of free will. Don’t control someone’s behavior or actions. And also you don’t have to keep making excuses for others.

Realize that you are not abnormal.

The problem with being different is that you often felt like the odd one out. And in such situations, you could think that something is wrong with you. If you have felt this way, I want you to know that nothing is wrong with you. God knew exactly what He was doing when He created you. He knew people like you are needed in this world. Therefore, it’s important to know that you matter and you are needed here on earth.

It is okay to be different. Do not allow others to make you feel less than others because you are different. Embrace your uniqueness. And understand that you are the way you are because there is a solution you bring to the world.

It is important as a Christian empath to take time to recharge.

Jesus would withdraw and spend time with God to recharge. And you need to do that too. You can never pour from an empty cup and you, too need the same thing you want to offer others. Pray, journal, read the Bible, and sit still. Whatever you do to recharge, do it. This will help you cultivate the real you and not allow the world to cause you to conform to the patterns of this world. The more you are aware of who you are, the less the world tells you who it thinks you would be. It Is okay to be different. Don’t always go with the status quo.

Practicing solitude is something that will help you recharge as a Christian empath. You need to also take care of yourself so that you can be of service to others. You cannot pour from an empty cup. And you will not be effective when you are running on empty.

As a Christian empath, it is imperative that you surround yourself with a community that understands you.

You don’t have to have many people who understand you. You can have two or 3. Sometimes even one person is enough. But ensure you have people who encourage you to thrive in who you are and encourage you to embrace your uniqueness. These people will be the ones to remind you who you are when you feel like giving up. They will keep you grounded when you are overwhelmed. If you don’t have such a community, remember that you have the precious Holy Spirit to help you and be there for you. He always wants to hear from you and wants to be your friend. So don’t feel alone and misunderstood. The Holy Spirit is always there for you.

God did not create you to live life alone. You need to find your community. When you ask the Holy Spirit, He will lead you to the people that are right for you. Why not ask Him for discernment?

Conclusion.

You have a beautiful and pure heart, and this is a beautiful thing. In a world full of selfish ambitions and gains, you are a testament that there are people who are concerned about the welfare of others. Don’t let the world dim your personality. Learn to embrace the very core of who you are. God makes no mistake, and that goes to show you He knew what He was doing when He created you. You are a star that needs to shine brightly.

Do not hide your light under the bed, instead allow others to see you reflect Jesus on earth. You make people feel safe and they can confide in you, and that is rare. Do not be afraid to help those who are hurting. But even as you do so, don’t forget to recharge, or else you will burn out.

Allow Jesus to help you create healthy boundaries that will help you avoid unnecessary pain and misuse. Jesus knows you are delicate, and He wants to help you build a safe place that will help you in creating healthy boundaries. Don’t allow people to make you feel like something is wrong with you because that’s not true. Instead, embrace who you are, and just like Jesus knows when to say no and surround yourself with people who see the real you, accept and nurture it. You are a blessing, keep shining!

How To Find Your Balance As a Christian Empath.

Who is an empath?

Characteristics of a Christian empath.

Examples of Jesus exuding empathy.