As caregivers, we can find ourselves wallowing in bitterness.
We can feel hostile towards those who won’t show up or even notice us struggling to begin with. It can make us want to scream, “I’M DROWNING OVER HERE!!!”
We can feel envious of our friends and family who are simply living their lives.
If we’ve been entrenched in caring for a loved one, even a quick scroll through our social feeds or a conversation with someone in passing can fill us with jealousy. Especially if we’ve completed our caregiving missions, we can feel consumed with
Whether it be a missed opportunity, a broken relationship, or just a desire for rest, we can slide into resentful mode, with our crosshairs focused on that which has passed us by thanks to our caregiving responsibilities.
If we’re not careful, we can become consumed with these awful emotions.
When we harbor feelings like bitterness in our hearts, we are blocking ourselves from blessings. They are simply tools the enemy is using to keep us from staying the course. When we allow those negative feelings to take up space, we are blocking ourselves from receiving all the sweetness our Heavenly Father offers us through His grace and mercy.
My prayer for you, beloved, is that you can find strength and peace in the sweet, sweet love of God and draw from that. You got this.
Below, please find a prayer and scripture that will underline the power of love, compassion, foregiveness and kindness over envy, hatred, and resentment.
A Prayer for Caregivers
You can pray this prayer or tell the Heavenly Father whatever is on your heart.
Heavenly Father, please help my heart not to be hardened by the challenges of our journey. Release me from longing for and focusing on that which doesn’t serve me here in the moment. Take away these negative feelings and fill me with love and joy and desire to live rightly. I love you. Amen.
Scripture
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 ESV
Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.
Proverbs 10:12
Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.
Isaiah 38:17 NIV (PS – ESV says, “Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness..)
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 ESV
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
(IN OTHER WORDS- Forget about what the rest of the world is doing (what they eat don’t make you … you know… and focus on your important mission- caring for your loved one and glorifying God)
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper;I will not fear;what can man do to me?”
Hebrews 13:5-6
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
James 1:19-20 NIV
What verses do you lean on when you feel yourself starting to turn sour? I’d love to hear from you. Drop your favorites in the comments below 💬👇🏽😘
