One Word Focus: Compassion

In today’s fast-paced world—where deadlines, KPIs, and productivity dominate much of our waking hours—it’s easy to overlook the quiet power of compassion. Yet, it is often the simplest expressions of care that carry the deepest spiritual impact.

“How are you really doing?”

It may seem like just a few words. But when asked sincerely, this question has the potential to break through walls people have built around their hearts. In the busyness of our workdays, when we take a moment to pause and truly check in with someone, we mirror one of the most Christ-like characteristics: caring deeply.

Caring Is Christ-like

Jesus didn’t rush past people. He didn’t treat interruptions as inconveniences. Whether it was the woman at the well, the blind beggar by the roadside, or the leper longing for healing—Jesus stopped. He looked. He listened. He loved. In the same way, we are called to reflect His heart by showing compassion to those around us, even in seemingly small moments.

Sometimes, the most spiritual thing you can do in your workplace isn’t quoting Scripture or praying out loud—it’s offering genuine, undivided attention to someone who’s struggling silently.

Emotional Check-ins Matter

In environments where performance is praised and vulnerability is rarely welcomed, emotional check-ins become lifelines. They remind others that their value isn’t tied to output or results, but to their identity as a person made in God’s image.

When we care enough to ask, listen, and follow up, we create spaces of safety. We affirm that people are not invisible. They are not alone. And they are deeply valued—not just by us, but by the God who sees them fully.

Workplaces Need More Empathy

Let’s face it—many of us spend more time with coworkers than with our families. That’s why it’s crucial to build work cultures where empathy is not only welcomed, but modeled. Compassion is not weakness. It’s strength under control. It’s leadership marked by humility.

When we lead or serve with compassion, we challenge the culture of constant hustle and replace it with a rhythm of care, dignity, and human connection. Compassion cuts through the noise of performance metrics and whispers what we all long to hear: “You matter.”

Jesus Modeled Compassion Consistently

Compassion wasn’t just something Jesus did—it was who He was. He didn’t offer surface-level sympathy; He extended healing, presence, and restoration. He met physical needs and emotional wounds with equal urgency.

As followers of Christ in the marketplace, we are called to do the same—not because it’s easy, but because it’s transformative. Your kindness might be the only glimpse of Jesus someone sees today.

It Starts With Us

If we want to see more compassion in the workplace, we must lead with it ourselves. It starts by slowing down just enough to ask: “How are you—really?” It starts by noticing the quiet tears in someone’s eyes, the fatigue behind their smile, or the frustration buried in their silence.

In doing so, we open doors to deeper relationships. We create space for conversations that go beyond work and lead to faith. We reflect the love of Christ not just through words, but through intentional action.

Let’s be people of compassion.
Not just when it’s convenient, but especially when it’s not.
Because caring—truly caring—is one of the most powerful ways to point others to Jesus.