Compassion Without an Agenda: Loving People as They Are
Written By Jacqui Sua, Elevate Christian Disability Trust Staff
How we should focus on relationship over “fixing”—meeting people where they are rather than seeing disability as something that always needs to be healed.
March 2025
We often associate compassion with helping or fixing someone’s problems, but what if true compassion is simply about being present? Compassion is not always about solving problems or finding quick fixes—it’s about being with someone in their pain and struggles, seeing them as they are, and showing up without the need to change them.
During my prayer and deliverance mission trip to Fiji, God deeply reminded me of the word ‘compassion’ through Matthew 9:35-36 (NIV):
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
This passage shows how Jesus demonstrated compassion by connecting with people emotionally and spiritually before offering healing. He didn’t rush to fix their problems; he loved them first. Jesus spoke with them, listened to them, and acknowledged their worth before addressing their physical needs. This example reminds us that compassion is about presence, not always about fixing. It’s about showing up, not to change the person, but to love them where they are.
Prayer: Inviting God’s Presence into People’s Pain
Just as Jesus’ compassion was rooted in His presence, our prayer for others should be about inviting God’s presence into their lives, not just seeking solutions. Prayer becomes a vital part of compassion, aligning our hearts with God’s will, trusting that His love will bring healing in His perfect time.
When I pray for someone, I don’t focus on fixing their problems. Instead, I focus on inviting God’s healing power and comfort into their lives. Whether that healing comes physically, emotionally, or spiritually, it’s God’s work, not mine. Compassion in prayer is about trusting God’s perfect timing and His way of bringing peace, even when we don’t fully understand the journey or timing of the healing.
Compassion Without an Agenda: Meeting People Where They Are
When I see someone in pain or struggling—whether mentally or physically—I’ve learnt to stop rushing to fix them. Instead of immediately thinking, “How can I help them get better?” I focus on simply being present, listening, and offering support. Prayer has become a way for me to invite Jesus’ compassion into their struggles, asking Him to help me see their suffering through His eyes and guide me in bringing healing—whether through action, words, or simply being there.
True compassion is not about changing someone; it’s about valuing them for who they are, right where they are. Too often, we equate loving care with offering solutions. But real love goes far beyond that. Love people as they are means meeting them without expectations or a hidden agenda, not trying to shape them into who we think they should be.
The Bible doesn’t share our concern for functional independence. God can be equally glorified through blindness as He can through sight; His power is displayed just as strongly through weakness as through strength. Sometimes, God’s character is even more visible in people who we may see as lacking eloquence. This simple, profound truth has reshaped my understanding of compassion.
True Compassion is About Presence, Not Perfection
When we see someone’s disability or struggle and our first thought is, “How can I help them get better?” We might miss the bigger picture. People don’t always need a solution; they need a friend, an advocate, and someone who values them beyond their challenges. Compassion without an agenda focuses not on how we can change them, but on how we can stand by them, showing love and respect for who they are right now.
You don’t need to “fix” someone’s life to make a difference—you just need to show up consistently. Sometimes, a simple act of kindness, a conversation, or sitting with someone in their struggles can be far more valuable than offering solutions. The best way to show love may not always be through solving problems but by offering shared presence and a listening ear.
Compassion and Prayer: A Heartfelt Act of Faith
True compassion often reaches beyond what we can see or touch. When we pray for others, we’re not just asking for quick fixes; we’re offering our heartfelt care, trusting that God’s healing power is at work in their lives, even when we don’t fully understand how or when healing will unfold. Prayer is an act of faith that says, “I see you, and I believe that God is working in your life—even if I don’t fully understand the journey or the timing of the healing.”
Healing doesn’t always look the way we expect. Sometimes it’s physical, but more often, it’s emotional or spiritual. As we pray for others, we invite God to be part of their healing process. The healing may not come in the form we anticipate, but it may come in the peace they find through our presence, in the understanding we offer, or simply in knowing they are seen and loved for who they are.
Loving Without Imposing Expectations
Sometimes, we think loving someone means helping them “overcome” their struggles, but that’s not always what they need. Instead of focusing on what we think is best, we should ask, “How can I support you?” Love without an agenda means respecting their journey, not imposing our expectations on them. True compassion means saying, “I see you. You matter. You are enough just as you are.”
By practicing this kind of love, we create a world where everyone feels valued, included, and embraced for who they are—not who others think they should be.
Final thoughts
In my own experience, I’ve found that healing can often be most profound when it’s not about fixing something or changing someone. It’s about empowering them to recognise their worth in God’s eyes and praying that they experience His love and peace in their unique circumstances. Compassion, when paired with prayer, doesn’t try to control the outcome. It surrenders the need for “fixing” and trusts in God’s perfect timing and healing.
As we embrace compassion without an agenda, may we continue to reflect God’s love in everything we do. We trust that, through His guidance, our presence in the lives of others can be a source of peace and healing. To God be the glory, now and always.