Bible Verses For Caregivers: Encouraging Scriptures
Taking care of loved ones is a beautiful experience, but at times it can be stressful. Here are my favorite bible verses for caregivers.
Taking care of loved ones is a beautiful experience. It is rewarding, fulfilling, and God-honoring work.
Certainly, however, caring for those who need our help can sometimes be stressful. After all, caregivers are human too. That is why I rely on my faith to carry me through difficult times.
Relying on faith to carry me through challenging times is my coping mechanism, and as I dig deeper into the word for support around caregiving, I find there are many bible verses for caregivers.
Some of these verses really help me on my journey as a caregiver for Doug, who is managing Parkinson’s disease.
Relying on my faith during difficult times is not the way I have always handled things. Even today, I sometimes slip into wanting to control everything by myself, without relying on God’s help and trusting in the plan he has laid out for my life.
For years, I ignored God’s whisperings in my heart. I thought I had all my life figured out, and I relied on my own understanding, strength, and power, which didn’t get me very far.
Only when I put aside my own personal pride and control was I better able to manage the disappointing hard times that happened throughout my life.
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A Caregiver’s Spiritual Journey
Now, let me be the first to say, life is hard, and being in a caregiving role, in any capacity, is not easy even under the best of circumstances.
It requires self-sacrifice, empathy, and often putting your own life dreams, hopes, and desires on hold, if not permanently, then at least for some time.
This is not easy. We human beings tend to think selfishly and rely on earthly treasures and success as our guide and purpose in life.
Many of us, including myself for years and years, thought that doing the right thing, or good work, would be the answer to happiness and a fulfilling life.
This was the way, or so I thought, not to just a happy life but to eternal life – on the peaceful streams toward heaven and the kingdom of God! 😉
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Ephesians 2: 8-9
Perhaps growing up in a family with a good amount of religious guilt pointed me in this direction. For many years, as a young adult, I distanced myself from God and all religion, quite frankly, because the good works weren’t getting me far. Instead of thriving, I felt like I was being punished.
Doing Good Work For The Right Reason
Of course, doing good work is important, and it’s a valuable way to show others the love of God. But sometimes we do the right thing for the wrong reason, and what I did not realize was, I was trying to bribe God with my good works.
I was not always doing these good works for the right reason. I had ulterior motives rather than a pure heart.
It wasn’t until I picked up a Bible and actually started reading it that I began to find clarification. Reading God’s word softened my heart, and I began to see what God’s plan was for me and my life.
If I am to be perfectly honest, relying on God’s good plan versus my own did make going about my day lighter and easier, more smooth, I should say, but it wasn’t all rainbows because I started trusting him again.
God never promised us a happy or easy life, but he does promise us eternal life if we follow him and abide by his plan and not ours.
God As The Ultimate Caregiver
In my mind, God is the ultimate caregiver. He loved us enough to send his son Jesus to show us how to live, love, and behave. His is by far the greater love.
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)
God’s love transcends any kind of love we know, at it can be difficult to comprehend just how much he does love us. But if we go to him with our problems and our worries, he will guide us, that is, if we are willing to be guided.
In the Bible, it says Christ Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray right before he was to die on the cross. Jesus was crushed with grief to the point of death (Matthew 26:38 (NLT)).
Jesus prayed to his father three times, asking for his burden to be taken away before he finally accepted his fate as God’s will.
“My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me, Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Matthew 26: 39 (NLT)).
“My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” (Matthew 26: 42 (NLT)).
God may not have taken away Jesus’ burden, but through prayer, Jesus was strengthened for the task in front of him.
For he stated to his father, “Your will be done,” and shortly after, he returned to the disciples to begin his journey to the cross.
Let God strengthen you and lead you to a place of green pastures.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29: 11 (NLT)
Caregiving – Serving With Love
I believe in miracles, but I also believe, more often than not, God uses ordinary people to show his unfailing love and presence.
God’s love is never-ending, and if we could serve with just a hint of his grace, the peace of God would be strengthened in all of us. Not just for those we care for – elderly parents, those with chronic disease or special needs, etc., but for us as caregivers too.
We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.
1 John 3: 16 (NLT)
The book Ruth in the Bible is a beautiful story, one of my favorites. It is a story of tragedy, loyalty, faithfulness, and love. And above all, it is a story that shows God’s love in the lives of ordinary people.
Ruth was a loyal daughter-in-law to Naomi, her mother-in-law, who lost her husband and both of her sons. Naomi was to travel back to her homeland and did not want Ruth to go with her. Ruth’s fate would be worse if she stayed with Naomi, rather than going back to her own family to get remarried.
Ruth refused to leave Naomi and professed to remain with her until death.
“Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” (Ruth 1: 16-17).
As caregivers, may we show this kind of fierce love to all whom we care for. The selfless love that Ruth showed Naomi. With the help of God’s righteous right hand upon us, and through the fruit of the Spirit, may we always aim to serve in love.
Provide God-honoring care to those God has placed in our lives.
Matthew 25: 40 (NLT)
Caregiver Stress/Caregiver Burnout
Caregiver stress and burnout are very real, and it’s surprising how quickly it can build up if you are not aware, continually evaluating your own needs, wants, and desires aside from the caregiving role.
According to a survey run by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP Public Policy Institute, 40% of caregivers felt emotionally stressed, 20% said it caused financial problems, and about 20% felt physically strained.
I get stressed, and my tolerance for caregiving gets low when I haven’t taken very good care of my own health, or I’ve ignored some of the things I personally enjoy doing, like exercising, writing, journaling, or sauna-ing! 😉
It is also important for me to get outside every day, no matter the weather. It doesn’t have to be long, but feeling the fresh air on my face and smelling the beautiful Cape Cod air, for me, makes such a big difference.
For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.
Hebrews 6: 10 (NLT)
Some days are going to be more stressful than others when you are a caregiver, and it won’t always be easy to step away to care for your own personal needs.
These are the times when reading supportive Bible verses could be a source of comfort. You may even try memorizing some!
Inspirational Bible Verses For Caregivers
Here are several Bible verses for caregivers that inspire me and help me feel supported.
- Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Colossians 3: 23 (NLT)
- Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. Matthew 7: 12 (NLT)
- And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded. Matthew 10:42 (NLT)
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
Colossians 3:23 (NLT)
Sometimes, as a busy caregiver, the days can be long and difficult. The recognition can be little, and we may feel exhausted both physically and emotionally by all that we are doing.
These are the times when it is even more important to know that God sees you. He will always recognize the generous, unselfish care you administer to those in need.
Caregiver Blessings
Here are a few final Bible verses for caregivers to remind you that God will always be there for you in times of exhaustion and need.
- So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6: 9 (NLT)
- Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me. Matthew 10:40 (NLT)
- Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT)
Many people are spiritual yet not too familiar with the Bible. That is how I was for many years. It wasn’t until I picked up the Bible, started to read through it thoroughly, and actually studied it, that clarification and understanding came. I began to rely on reading the Bible as a tool for my own mental health.
VIDEO: Using Encouraging Bible Verses Throughout My Day As A Busy Caregiver
Bible Resources
If you don’t own a Bible, you can go to any Bible-based church in your area, and they will give you one, more than likely for free. You can also buy one online or in any bookstore.
Here are some resources that helped me.
- NLT Bible – this is the one I use daily
- Chronological Life Application Bible – this Bible helped me understand its history because it is written in chronological order, versus how a regular Bible is organized.
- One Year Bible Companion – this really helped me understand things better when I was reading through the Bible. It provides you with a study guide, with a few short passages to read each day, so that by the end of one year, you will have read through the entire Bible.
No matter what Bible you use, the most important thing is to read it! The more you dive into reading the Bible, the better you will begin to understand. It takes time, so give it time!
Inspirational Bible Verses for Caregivers
Find comfort and strength with this beautiful collection of inspirational Bible verses specifically chosen to encourage and uplift caregivers.
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