Caregiver

Scriptures: Galatians 6:7-9, 2 Corinthians 9:6, Matthew 7:12, Matthew 25:35-45, Proverbs 15:3

GOD SEES 

“Why are you putting yourself through that? Just hire someone.”

“You must really love them because I wouldn’t do what you’re doing.”

“Seems to me if you would just do this, then you wouldn’t have to worry about that.”  

Serving as a God-honoring caregiver is serious business and requires a continuous commitment of sacrifice, dedication, and patience. Due to life’s many challenges, many people never thought that they’d need a caregiver let alone become one. 

The twists and turns of life can cause a shift of roles and responsibilities for a family member, friend, and even a loved one. Most cases where a caregiver is needed requires an individualized plan for the person’s recovery, stability, and support. 

Whether someone needs a caregiver for a few days, months, a few years, or for the rest of their lives, God has empowered the God-honoring caregiver with an important assignment to serve in love. Although serving as a caregiver is a blessing to the individual in need, thoughts can creep into a caregiver’s mind about how they constantly assist with the needs of others, but their lives are in need of some Divine care, support, and recovery also. 

Depending on the situation that led to someone serving as a caregiver it probably rerouted their personal plans, dreams, and desires in order to help sow into, and assist, in the goal of restoration in the needs of others.  

Whether you are a parent caring for a special-needs child, a child caring for a disabled parent, a coworker helping a handicapped colleague, a spouse caring for a loved one, a family friend caring for a youth with a learning disability, a sibling looking out for a physically or mentally impaired relative, remember God sees you, your sacrifice, dedication, and patience. 

People might not see or acknowledge the smiles, sacrifice, and kindness you share with others, but remember God sees. People might not see a caregiver’s individual struggles, but God sees. People don’t see the hard work you’ve put in, but God sees. 

The God-honoring seeds caregivers sow in the lives of others will produce an abundant harvest in their personal lives. Although people can’t see or dismiss your efforts, God sees. Don’t get weary because others can’t see your God-honoring efforts. Trust that God sees you, and from His perspective you are blessed. 

Scriptures: 2 Kings 4:8-37, Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 4:25-27

DISTRACTIONS 

When a person has a significant amount of responsibility, it can be very hard to not focus in on what others won’t do, don’t do, and should do. 

Serving as a caregiver is not a job suitable for a selfish person. Caregivers are required daily to purposefully put a priority on the needs of others, all whilst dealing with their own internal and external challenges, desires, and individual struggles. Life can be overwhelming at times, but for the Caregiver who is administering care for a family member, friend, or loved one remain encouraged. 

It can be hard witnessing how able-bodied family members elect to dismiss one’s needs while they watch a caregiver make daily sacrifices. Aim to not get distracted, because distractions come in all shapes, sizes, and situations. The enemy seeks to get your eyes off of the target which is serving as a God-honoring caregiver to the one in need, and engage in battles of distractions that will distract your purpose. 

The targeted aim is to provide God-honoring care to those God has placed in your life. Distractions could be displayed in the form of someone criticizing you, complaining about something, or deflecting about the real issues one currently is facing. Distractions appear during the most pivotal points of life. Aim to not take your eyes off of the right target.  

Constant communication with God in prayer, praise, and His word are significant guides in discerning between a distraction or a God-honoring focus. Losing focus whilst administering care has consequences, but staying focused in the midst of distractions produces fruitful results.  

In scripture, The Shunamite woman served as a caregiver for her son when he took ill. After assessing the situation she laid her son on the bed, shut the door and focused on getting to the man of God who declared the promise of blessing over her. Although her son was in desperate need, she remained  focused and pursued God’s messenger, not allowing any distractions to stop her.

 The Shunamite woman was faced with distractions by family members who questioned her, but even in the midst the obstacles she didn’t allow distractions to impede her focus on being a committed caregiver to her son who had a special need.  

Caregivers, be encouraged. And don’t allow distractions to derail you off course. Continue to pursue God as you care for those in need. 

Scriptures: Luke 4:12-26, Proverbs 16:3, Proverbs 4:25, 1 John 3:17

GET IT DONE 

Caregivers get the job done. 

In order to get daily tasks completed, caregivers can’t dwell on what others aren’t doing. Focusing on what others aren’t doing can serve as a distraction that will later lead to bitterness and animosity if not checked. Constant prayer and trust that God has empowered you to get things done is refreshing encouragement. 

You could be experiencing the reality of people electing to not help you out as they witness you daily sacrificing to help others. Just know God sees it all.  

Aim to not get caught up trying to teach someone a lesson who is not willing to put in the work to help a loved one. Focusing on their actions will only distract you from helping the one God called you to assist. It can be very disheartening to witness people take advantage of a caregiver who is doing the majority of the work. But it’s even more heartbreaking to see people strut and front in public like they care so much for someone, but behind closed doors they don’t even put forth an effort to lend a helping hand. 

If a God-honoring caregiver doesn’t get it done, who will? 

In scripture we discover how a group of men carried a paralyzed man on a stretcher, bringing him to Jesus. The fact that these men took on the role of caregivers is eye-opening, because it isn’t revealed if they were related or not. These men couldn’t find a way to bring the paralyzed man in the area where Jesus was because of the crowd, so they went to the roof, removed some tiles, and made a way by lowering the man on the stretcher in the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus. 

These men GOT IT DONE! They didn’t focus on the distractions of what people weren’t doing for them. They focused on administering care to the paralyzed man and GOT IT DONE. These men  took the paralyzed man to an important doctor’s appointment—to the Great Physician. They prepared a healthy meal by feeding him the Bread of Life, and administered the required medicine needed by the Ultimate Healer.  

These men GOT IT DONE by focusing on one’s needs that lead to restoration, renewal, revival, and rejoicing. God will empower you to get it done, too. Don’t be discouraged. 

Scriptures: Deuteronomy 28:1-12, Proverbs 15:3, Exodus 1:15-22

The act of intentionally caring for someone creates a ripple effect in the lives of others. 

Although a caregiver might not be able to conceptualize their impact in countless people’s lives, taking the time to purposefully care for someone in a God-honoring way blesses the person and the countless people that one person impacts. 

It doesn’t matter if you are a grandchild assisting your grandparent, a child helping your parent, a parent helping your child or a spouse helping the other, your help is expanding externally to others. 

Similarly, if you are a sibling, relative, friend, loved one, volunteer, or paid employee your assistance is truly appreciated. 

Although you might not hear it a lot, or not even at all, you are appreciated. God appreciates your sacrifice and love that you exhibit towards those in need and there is a blessing for your service, sacrifice, and commitment.  

In scripture we read about two women who cared for the needs of others and how their act of courage blessed so many. Shiphrah and Puah were Hebrew midwives. These  two caregivers were responsible with helping Hebrew women during labor, delivery and even after the birth of their babies. Shiphrah and Puah were committed to the well-being of the women and children God blessed them to care for. They didn’t focus on what others were doing, they didn’t get distracted. They stayed on target with their God-given task. 

The king of Egypt commanded the midwives to kill every male child they delivered. Scripture reveals that the midwives feared God and didn’t follow the king of Egypt’s command and let the boy babies live. This act of God-honoring care and reverence was seen by God and the LORD blessed and established families and households for the midwives. Shiphrah and Puah cared for the women and boy babies. This act blessed so many because the people of Israel multiplied and became very strong. This event took place during the time Moses was born also. 

The actions of the midwives is a great example to follow when you think your God-honoring efforts aren’t appreciated. Remember, God sees them. There is a blessing in obedience and a blessing in caring for those in need.  

Being a caregiver is impactful and the one you care for impacts others in more ways than you’ll ever know. What you are doing is not in vain. 

Scriptures: Matthew 26:36-46, James 1:2, Proverbs 24:10, 1 Peter 5:7

PRAY TO  YOUR CAREGIVER DAILY 

Caregivers, don’t ever hesitate to give your cares to the LORD.

Caring for others can be very tough, but you were never called to carry the burden alone. The LORD commands us to cast our cares on the LORD because he cares for us ( 1 Peter 5:7). 

Even when the pressures of life knock on your door, praying to God the Father—The Ultimate Caregiver—daily, is absolutely essential. God is the Divine caregiver to every caregiver, and he is knowingly aware of every aspect of life a caregiver journeys through. 

Although people might offer great intentions on helping you as you care for others, remember to always seek God in prayer for direction, assistance, and wisdom. When challenges arise and you want the responsibility to be shared or passed from you solely administering God-honoring care and sacrifice to others, remember God is the one who will strengthen you as you pray to him regarding the situation.  

Conversing with the Divine Caregiver as you administer care is vital, because God is the only one who can answer your questions, concerns, and complaints. Additionally, God is the only one who can perfectly guide and strengthen you through your trials and uncertainties. 

In scripture we read about the example of Jesus—the Supreme Caregiver—going to the Caregiver, God the Father, in prayer when the pressures of life caring for others caused intense grief and distress. Jesus took the time to purposefully talk to God in prayer regarding his call to care for those the Father entrusted unto him to care for. Jesus prayed and talked to God, regularly.  

No matter what is going on around you, caregivers, it is important to seek God in prayer, even in the pressure-filled moments of life. 

The task of being a caregiver is not easy, but although the pressure of caring for a life is heavy, and those around might not give the same effort and fall asleep on the job, God is able to empower you to be all he’s called and created you to be. 

Never lose sight of the prize that God is your ultimate caregiver. Remember, as you care for others, God is caring for you.  Conversing with the Divine Caregiver will set the caregiver up to receive the best care to bless and administer to others.  

Scriptures: Ruth 1:1-22, Galatians 6:9, Proverbs 19:7, Matthew 7:12, Romans 12:13

RESILIENCE 

With all the challenges caregivers face, resilience is a quality that is much needed. 

Caregivers experience a variety of obstacles as it relates to their personal lives and in the lives of those they care for. A caregiver could possibly go through issues that range from the one they are caring for adamantly projecting an attitude of disdain because of their current condition,  to dealing with able-bodied family members giving voluntary advice that they won’t follow through with because they are entirely “too busy” to get involved. 

Whatever challenges a caregiver faces, praise God for the gift of resilience to bounce back and serve God. Serving as a God-honoring caregiver is a blessing for those in need, because it is a representation of God’s love. Caregivers, God’s grace is sufficient for you and there is a reward for the God-honoring seeds sown into one’s life.  

An example of a caregiver that led a life of God-honoring resilience was Ruth. Ruth was the daughter-in-law of Naomi. When Naomi’s husband and sons died, she set out to Judah along with her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, but whilst on the journey, Naomi insisted that her daughters-in-law go back to their country. Orpah went back to her country, but Ruth clung to Naomi. Ruth clung to Naomi and emphatically stated that she would go with Naomi and not leave her. 

It is in some of the most unique cases where a God-honoring caregiver is determined to take care of the one in need although the one in need insists otherwise. I believe Ruth followed the promptings of God to follow Naomi, all whilst trusting Him through the unknown. Ruth helped care for Naomi by going to get a job. Ruth faithfully exhibited resilience as she cared for her mother-in-law, during many challenges. Ruth’s resilience in sowing God-honoring seeds of caring for her mother-in-law, even when change seemed far off,  produced a harvest in her life that most likely exceeded her expectations. 

Caregivers, remain encouraged. Although the days are long, the recognition is few, God sees your God-honoring sacrificial seeds.  The very one you are caring for could be a part of the plan God has for you during this season for a magnificent change that will happen in your life. Be encouraged and be resilient in your call.  

Scriptures: Matthew 10:40-42, 1 Peter 2:24, Colossians 3:23

Empathy 

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. 

Serving as a God-honoring caregiver requires one to display empathy. It is a true blessing when someone is understanding, aware, and sensitive to the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of what others could potentially go through or what they are currently facing. Empathetic, God-honoring caregivers are a remarkable blessing to those in need. 

With the many distractions of life, people can get caught up forgetting about the needs or cares of those they proclaim to love or care about. Sometimes it takes a life changing situation where someone is forced to help another person during a critical time in life, for them to understand the value of God-honoring servitude, understanding, and sacrifice. 

It is in those moments of purposeful empathy when people are influenced, and serve as a God-honoring impact to countless others. 

Jesus is an example of a Divine empathetic caregiver.  Throughout scripture there are numerous events where Jesus Christ displayed loving empathy to people. Jesus was moved to compassion when he saw the people he loved and those he would sacrifice his life for in pain and despair. Jesus is empathetic of every situation every person endures and encounters. 

There should never be a question in one’s mind regarding the empathetic nature of Christ. Jesus took on every hurt, pain, sickness, and heartache that every person would ever experience.  Jesus, in loving empathy, endured it all and cared for each and every one of us. Jesus didn’t allow distractions to impede his assignment.

Jesus is the divine empathic caregiver. It is a blessing to know that although caregivers assist in the needs of others, Jesus is supplying the needs of all. Jesus cares for the caregiver as well as those in need.  

What a reward to know that Jesus divinely cares and comes through for you!