Month: November 2023

Feeling gratitude to God, but yet not expressing it back to Him, is somewhat like wrapping a present but not giving it to that special person. The gratitude is there… somewhere… but our world may be so chaotic at the time, we can’t seem to put forth the words. So think of it this way…this gift of gratitude is really all you can give back God. So in the presence of glum grayness, show gratefulness…in the face of pain, praise Him…in the center of trauma, express thanksgiving…and when you are beset by anguish, show your appreciation to the God Who loves you more than you’ll ever understand. And when you share this gift of gratitude with others – when you recollect God’s goodness, faithfulness, and mercy – they too will be filled with gratitude.

Isaiah knew that it was only God’s Word that could support in order to help those weighed down by burdens. Jesus repeated this in Matthew 11:28 when He said, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, And I will give you rest.” As a caregiver, we need to be ever watchful for physical, emotional, and mental weariness that can set in…which has come to be known as Compassion Fatigue. This is often caused by an accumulation of stress from caring for a loved one at home by yourself. Symptoms can range from having feelings of our strength & energy drained, and/or our patience & tolerance spent…which can then lead to anxiety, depression, and hopelessness…thus easily leading to burn-out and the health of the caregiver deteriorating. The old adage of “Caring for the Caregiver” is so important at this point, but not as important as getting into God’s Word daily to refresh, restore, and renew your soul. That’s because His Word can lift the heavy burden, give you God’s perspective, and show you once more how loved you are by Him.

Proverbs 24:10 ” If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!”

When life is wonderful, with no obstacles, sickness, or pain, we think little about troubling times…for they seem as far off as the distant future. But it’s during those very troubling times that our moral strength is truly tested. Anyone one can perch on the mountaintop and praise God, but it takes real resolve & determination to praise Him in the valley…especially when the valley experience brings weariness, discouragement, & fear. In Joshua 1:9, God tells His people, “Don’t be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” God’s Presence is not only with us on the mountaintops when everything in life is great, but He’s also close by as we trudge through the dark valleys of illness, medical emergencies, and sorrow. And so our faith should remain strong & not falter, knowing His divine Presence is fulfilling His promises day by day…whether on top of the mountain or below.

Caregiving for a loved one at home fulltime requires becoming part cheerleader & part encourager. This is especially true when physical improvement is slow or absent…when medical reports are discouraging or devastating…or when anxiety and depression seem to permeate the household. But this Ministry of Encouragement is much more than just superficial words – it’s speaking God’s promises into the atmosphere…verbalizing & looking for the good in any situation…and articulating by reflection of just how far God has brought you. These kind words are an important aspect of caring for one another…for as the old saying goes, many times we can’t see the forest for the trees. That’s because the heaviness of the present condition distorts our state of mind and takes our eyes off the Great Physician, Jesus Christ . But our kind words fittingly spoken can bring hope, comfort, and renewed courage.

Paul wrote to the Church in Philippi during his first Roman imprisonment, telling them that he had, “learned to be content whatever the circumstances…” (Philippians 4:11-12) When caregiving, the needs of the one we’re tending to often take precedence over our own needs. And when their needs are many, we’ll see ours diminish. That’s when we can either accept it with grace or become offended, irritable, & discontented. Before my husband came home from hospital, I knew my personal space time would be very limited…so the Lord & I had a conversation, “All I ask for Lord is a quiet cup of coffee in the morning, the time for a hot shower during the day, and the space to write this devotional…all the rest of the things I usually fill my day with are just mindless, so help me to use my time each day wisely, by prioritizing it always for my good & Your glory.” And the Lord has been faithful…supplying & filling up my needs as I fill the needs of my husband.

In Chapter 3 of Daniel three young Hebrew men have been charged with rebellion for not bowing down to a golden image and sentenced to execution by fiery furnace. They stood firm in their faith that their God would deliver them…but if not…nothing changed, they would still not renounce their Lord. Jesus spoke about it frequently & made no bones about it, we will suffer during our time here on earth… partaking in His sufferings. Only with our personal suffering, we want to know why and His purpose beforehand…but many times God won’t reveal the reason. So we must remain obedient whatever the outcome or consequences of our or a loved one’s illness, disease process, or physical decline. Things may change…or they may not, but that shouldn’t change our faith in God.

In this passage, Jesus appears to His disciples right before His Ascension to Heaven, opening their minds & giving them immediate knowledge and comprehension into the wisdom of God’s Word. But in doing so Jesus also removed their Spiritual blindness & slowness of heart that had been hindering their understanding & acceptance of the Gospel Message. (This illumination of the Scriptures by Jesus was before the Day of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit’s arrival.) Paul elaborates about this in Ephesians 1:17-18 when he writes that God will give Believers the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, that we may know Him better…and that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which He has called us. This illumination by the Holy Spirit thus enables us to hear, receive, and properly understand the Message of God’s Word as He opens our minds.

As I Peter 5:8 tells us, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” So why is the devil so angry? We just have to look a few verses back in Revelation 12 to see how the devil and his angels were soundly defeat and kicked out of heaven, “For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.” (Revelation 12:10) The devil’s collapse orchestrated by way of our Lord’s Resurrection. Therefore, he’s none too happy about it and the main reason why he’s filled with such intense and violent anger, for he knows his time is short. This is also why he’s so aggressively attacking Believers at every turn with his lies, accusations, and deception. Thus as Christians, we must stay alert…our eyes focusing on Jesus, looking to Him for the truth, and depending entirely on Him. James 4:7 says to resist the devil and he will flee, for he’s in no way equal in power or authority to God. And though he has some power- he’s not invincible – and can’t stand against God’s people who are covered by the blood of Jesus.

This fear of the Lord springs from our faith…but there are times when our faith is wavering and our hope is dim. Maybe you’ve been caring for a loved one and they just don’t seem to be getting better. Or maybe the bad medical reports are outweighing the good ones. Either way, think of this – If you can’t see the light ahead, look back and remember God’s faithfulness. Romans 12:12 tells us to be joyful in hope and patient in affliction…which can seem like a contradiction to the person smack-dab in the middle of tribulation. Them asking, “How can I be glad about all this suffering & misery my loved one & I are going through right now?” But we can be joyful in hope for, “We have this hope as an anchor for our souls.” Hebrews 6:19 tells us. And this blessed hope and assurance comes from looking back and remembering God’s faithfulness, His loving kindness & mercy, and how far He has brought us to this point. And as we gain hope from looking back, we can move ahead with renewed strength & determination.