This post is yet another chapter from my book, Dear Caregiver Reflections for Family Caregivers.)
The Lord God is the caregiver's refuge, source of guidance, and assurance in the difficult challenges of family care-giving. Care-giving is one of the most important avenues of service in the kingdom of God. It also can be a time of despair, discouragement, and bewilderment while making decisions concerning the next wisest step in dealing with the health of one's loved one for whom one is caring.
Every caregiver needs to ask the Lord to help and guide him or her through the difficult twists and turns of care-givng. This involves also TRUSTING that God will guide step by step through this process. God will not usually let the caregiver see far into the future, but the Lord has promised to lead step by step. He will always walk alongside the caregiver with His sustaining strength. He will be the caregiver's refuge each step of the way.
The caregiver needs to choose to rest in the Lord. A caregiver cannot control the circumstances of their loved one's disease, but they can control their response to the circumstances. That response has to be one of trust in the Lord. When one sees one's loved one deteriorating in health it is so easy to become discouraged and to become fearful, but the Lord is the source of hope. He has everything under His control. He is worthy of our trust.
There are times when the care-giving situation become increasingly desperate and hopeless. This can cause the caregiver to feel brokenhearted and want to give up. Remember, dear caregiver, the Lord is very near to you when you feel this way. God sees your overwhelming situation, and He hears your cry for help. He can and will bring you through this storm in your life. He will hear your every cry and meet your every need. You may not always understand God's ways with you and with your loved one; but He will never leave you or forsake you, dear caregiver.
The Lord may not heal your loved one on this earth, but the Lord will heal your loved one. As a child of God, even if your loved one's disease is not healed on this earth, your loved one will be completely healed in eternity. No matter what happens, the Lord will heal you too, dear Christian caregiver. He will heal you emotionally and spiritually and teach you valuable lessons about His love and faithfulness in the process. Trust in Him. Rest in Him.
Every caregiver needs to ask the Lord to help and guide him or her through the difficult twists and turns of care-givng. This involves also TRUSTING that God will guide step by step through this process. God will not usually let the caregiver see far into the future, but the Lord has promised to lead step by step. He will always walk alongside the caregiver with His sustaining strength. He will be the caregiver's refuge each step of the way.
The caregiver needs to choose to rest in the Lord. A caregiver cannot control the circumstances of their loved one's disease, but they can control their response to the circumstances. That response has to be one of trust in the Lord. When one sees one's loved one deteriorating in health it is so easy to become discouraged and to become fearful, but the Lord is the source of hope. He has everything under His control. He is worthy of our trust.
There are times when the care-giving situation become increasingly desperate and hopeless. This can cause the caregiver to feel brokenhearted and want to give up. Remember, dear caregiver, the Lord is very near to you when you feel this way. God sees your overwhelming situation, and He hears your cry for help. He can and will bring you through this storm in your life. He will hear your every cry and meet your every need. You may not always understand God's ways with you and with your loved one; but He will never leave you or forsake you, dear caregiver.
The Lord may not heal your loved one on this earth, but the Lord will heal your loved one. As a child of God, even if your loved one's disease is not healed on this earth, your loved one will be completely healed in eternity. No matter what happens, the Lord will heal you too, dear Christian caregiver. He will heal you emotionally and spiritually and teach you valuable lessons about His love and faithfulness in the process. Trust in Him. Rest in Him.