The Character of God
Limitless Compassion
God's compassion often seems limited only to the scriptures. But on account of Jesus, His compassion reaches past life and even into death. So, even though God's answer to your prayer might be no right now, we can look forward to an eternal yes with Him in heaven.
Luke 7:11-17
Jesus Raises a Widow's Son
11 Soon afterward He went to a town called Nain, and His disciples and a great crowd went with Him. 12 As He drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then He came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 17 And this report about Him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.
1 Kings 17:8-9
The Widow of Zarephath
8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.”
1 Kings 17:17-24
Elijah Raises the Widow's Son
17 After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 18 And she said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!” 19 And he said to her, “Give me your son.” And he took him from her arms and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged, and laid him on his own bed. 20 And he cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?” 21 Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again.” 22 And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives.” 24 And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”
Series Information

We all carry questions about who God really is - especially when life feels unpredictable or painful. In Exodus 34:6–7, God reveals the core of His character in words that echo throughout the entire Bible. The Character of God series invites us to slow down and listen to what God says about Himself. During Lent, we will unpack these defining traits of God one by one, discovering a God who is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and overflowing with faithful love.