Encouragement for Caregivers
Someone once asked me to choose five verses that give me encouragement as a caregiver. That is nearly an impossible task with so many to pick from. But today, here, and now, these are my top six (if you’ve followed me long, you know I don’t do well with boundaries 😊):
Lamentations 3:23-25
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.
New Every Morning! Some nights I go to bed spent and sad about something that happened that day. But every morning I wake up is a gift from God filled with a fresh batch of His compassion and love. Thank you, God, for the clean slates you faithfully provide!
Psalm 37:25-29
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed. Turn from evil and do good; then you will always live securely. For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off; the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
It’s clear I am not young, but I wouldn’t say I am old, just older. While I don’t have any children of my own, I believe I am still reaping the blessings of my parents living a righteous and generous life. I am thankful for this incredible heritage they laid out for me.
Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills---where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip--- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you---the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm---he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
As a youngster, my mom had devotions with me prior to me leaving for school each morning. I remember reading this Psalm together, and it became a memory verse task for me. This chapter still rolls around in my head, especially when I see a mountain range. In the words of a song by Rich Mullins, “My deliverer is coming, my deliverer is standing by.”
Isaiah 40:28-31
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Weak. Weary. Need understanding. That’s what happens when I live life in my strength. But when we trust and hope in the Creator, the everlasting God, look at these promises. Renewed strength. We’re gifted with power. We can soar like eagles and run and walk without getting tired. I’m in!
Isaiah 46:4
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
I love that the Bible talks about gray hairs. The same God who created me in my mother’s womb, and sustained me through my blonde days as a child and my brown and auburn days as a young adult, is still sustaining me now that I have gray hair. And he gets that as my hair goes grayer, I need to lean more heavily into him. He stands ready to carry and rescue me. What a precious promise to an aging caregiver!
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
This is an invitation that never grows old. Come over and over and over again to Jesus. He wants me to yoke with him, to let him lead and show me the way. When I do, there is rest. Sweet rest because I am walking in the rhythms of grace with my Lord.
What is your go-to verse when your days as a caregiver run longer than your energy does? When the expectations seem more than you can manage, how does Scripture speak to your heart? The truth of God’s word is too good not to share. I can’t wait to learn from your comments!