Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
A myriad of reasons exist as to why we may rejoice while others weep or weep while others rejoice. Paul’s point in this verse is this: as Christians, we must sympathize.*
Why?
The main reason is that we are all connected as one body.* For the body to engage in differing reactions throughout its being is to express a disjointedness that departs from the unity characteristic of the body of Christ. To weep when others weep and to rejoice when others rejoice affirms and practices the unity of the body of Christ. Sympathy such as what Paul describes flows from love.*
That said, it is not always easy. One commentator notes that sometimes it’s easier to mourn than to congratulate.* I believe that mourning with someone can be equally difficult. It may be that some have trouble sympathizing with one or both of these situations. Though Paul’s main point is simply to sympathize rather than cover all scenarios, it is worth looking at both scenarios briefly.*
Sometimes mourning with those who mourn is difficult because we desire to rescue people from their pain prematurely. Other times mourning with those who mourn is difficult because we lack the emotional reserves to loan our sympathy (which involves recognizing, affirming, and feeling some of their pain). Other times we have trouble mourning with those who mourn because we have hidden our own grief so deeply in our souls that to connect with their grief would unearth ours. This can be scary or overwhelming.
Sometimes rejoicing with those who rejoice is difficult because we are plagued by jealousy or envy.* Other times we cannot escape our own low state to rise up to meet theirs in sympathy.
The difficulty of sympathy is why it must flow from love. To meet someone where they are at requires that we give to them what we can only receive from the Father: love.
There is a season for everything. Sympathize. God sympathizes with you.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to feel His sympathy: He is mourning with you when you mourn; He is rejoicing with you when you rejoice. Perhaps God wants you to feel His love today. Maybe God wants you to sympathize with someone in your life. Perhaps God wants you to reach out to someone that you missed out sympathizing with. Maybe God wants you to rest more so that you have more emotional reserves. Perhaps God wants to heal you of your grief. Maybe God wants you to reach out to someone who can sympathize with you.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
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*Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 480). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 335). InterVarsity Press.
Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (pp. 449–450). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (p. 411–412). Zondervan Publishing House.