The Bible frequently mentions being "tenderhearted," most notably in Ephesians 4:32, which says, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" (ESV). This instruction encourages compassion, kindness, and forgiveness among believers, mirroring God's forgiveness in Christ.
God's calls His saints to have tender hearts in their relationships. “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
Ephesians 4:32 urges us to be kind to each other, adding that we should be “tenderhearted.” The Greek word translated as “tenderhearted” can also mean “compassionate.” Many times, we lack compassion not because we're hard-hearted people, but because we're too busy, or too focused on the work we're doing to see people ...
One example comes from Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God has forgiven you.” In this sentence, Paul has summarized the biblical message: that we are to be kind, compassionate and forgiving. In other places, the gospel is summarized in other ways.
Ephesians 4:32. ESV Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. NIV Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
How to Forgive When It Feels Impossible
Jeremiah 33:3 is a powerful promise from God, often quoted as: "Call to me, and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known" (ESV), or "Call to me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know" (NIV/NASB). The verse encourages prayer, promising that when people call out to God, He will respond not just with answers, but with profound revelations and understanding beyond human comprehension, especially during difficult times.
50 random acts of kindness you can do today
Unforgiveness will produce bitterness.
And bitterness can be directly traced to the failure to forgive. It makes you caustic, sarcastic, condemning and nasty. Harassed by the memories of what you can't forgive, your thoughts become malignant toward others, and your whole view of life becomes distorted.
Kindness is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:23-24) and is a significant characteristic of the Christian faith. Kindness is the way to show love and compassion to those in need, and it is what we are all called to practice as followers of Jesus.
A tender heart is a warm, caring and honest heart. A tender heart is a heart that understands that life is hard but longs to offer a helping hand, a heartfelt hug and unconditional love despite differing opinions. A tender heart listens and rarely demands.
Repentance and forgiveness of sins and peace of conscience are examples of the tender mercies of the Lord.
Joshua 24:14–15 Reminds Us to Serve God
And then for us to pray that God would save us from idols in our country. We must decide if we will serve God or ourselves. Let's do that. God, we start this prayer by saying you alone are God.
Tender Heart Checklist: 8 Characteristics Any Christian Must Possess In Order to Please God
Proverbs 17:22 states, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones," highlighting the profound link between emotional well-being and physical health, where joy promotes healing and a negative spirit depletes strength, emphasizing that a happy, positive mindset is vital for both mental and physical vitality, much like medicine for the body.
📖 Proverbs 11:17 “Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves..” ✨ Reflection: Kindness is not a loss—it is an investment. When we show compassion to others, we also nurture our own peace, relationships, and well-being.
Unforgiveness is usually a result of ungodly pride and self-righteousness. Unforgiveness is often the sin that's committed against those we're the closest to and dearest to us. There's the sayings “Familiarity breeds contempt” & “Why do we always hurt the ones we love.” Unforgiveness is often a family sin.
"Forgive as the Lord forgave you." – Colossians 3:13 Forgiveness isn't always easy, but it is essential. Just as the Lord has shown us unending mercy, we are called to extend that same grace to others. Let's not hold on to bitterness or resentment, but let love flow freely through forgiveness.
Those four steps are Responsibility, Remorse, Restoration, and Renewal – also known as the “4 Rs.” If you can honestly and genuinely make your way through these four steps, you are well on your way to forgiving yourself.
Most people grew up with the old adage: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Best known as the “golden rule”, it simply means you should treat others as you'd like to be treated.
#1 – We are too focused on ourselves
Researchers have long established that we're less apt to show kindness when we are in a hurry or busy. The reality is that very few of us are Good Samaritans all the time. Deadlines, time pressures and other stressors get in our way. We become too self-centered.
💙 This Thursday, November 13th, we're celebrating World Kindness Day by wearing blue! Join our Rams in showing support for kindness and compassion. Let's fill our halls with blue as we spread positivity through small acts of kindness and remind everyone that kindness matters, every day!
The Bible strongly condemns men who neglect their children, highlighting this failure as a denial of faith, with 1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV) stating, "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel," emphasizing that failing to provide for one's family is worse than being an unbeliever, while Proverbs 13:22 (KJV) notes that a wicked man leaves his inheritance to his children, but a good man provides for them, showing a deep responsibility for their well-being.
To rend one's heart literally means to "tear away". How does this occur? We humbly come to the Lord in true repentance and we ask, "Lord take this (whatever the sin) out of my heart because I don't want anything between my heart and Your heart, Jesus. Then trust God to begin changing your heart.
Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech Thee from the bottom of my heart to secure me in my necessity. There are none that can withstand your power. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee. Holy Mary, I place this cause in Your hands.