Improving the Way You Serve
One of the weightiest issues of caring for a mentally ill spouse, child, or friend is that it is so dang relentless. The disease is so unpredictable, in its intensity and its spontaneity. You think you have the situation in hand, and it breaks out somewhere else, and often in public and causing major problems. This is wearing on anyone, including the Christian believer. And sometimes that can even make it more challenging.
You will need a support network, if you’re going to be a caregiver. This support is received in three different ways.
First, emotional support. Without someone who can listen and give words that encourage you, you’ll grow in resentment and frustration with your particular “lot”.
Second, I would suggest physical support. You will need someone to help you make sure the practical issues are met. (washing the car, fixing the shower, etc.) My wife as a caregiver has had to do things that she would normally wouldn’t be called on to do (fix the stove, do the taxes, etc.) because of my illness.
Third, spiritual support. It has three concentrations. Worship, prayer, and fellowship. These three have obvious effects on the caregiver. Just a word to the wise–when you pray you are going into it as two people (as well as for yourself). You must maintain and strengthen yourself and for the person you are serving. I think this is critical to your relationship. Try to see challenges, not obstacles. Don’t forget the power of a worshipping heart or the warmness of good Christian fellowship.
God gives special grace to the caretaker. My advice is to use it. Draw upon Jesus who is your caregiver. Present your afflicted one to Him. Be supernatural in the mundane. The story of the paralyzed man on his cot being brought into Jesus’ presence by his friends fascinates me. It has many parallels for you to be a good caregiver.
My last word of advice is that you don’t be self-critical or feel guilty. Remember, it is your friend or family member who is the sick one. Don’t get consumed by your responsibilities. Don’t fall in the trap of judging yourself by how well you do or don’t do as a caregiver. Remember, you are not performing for others, but for an audience of One, who sees all.
Educate yourself, use the internet to track down information. If I can help you further, please feel free to contact me. I’m not a rocket scientist but if I can encourage you I will. May the Holy Spirit touch your heart. You are going to need it.
The Giant is Mocking Us
From 1 Samuel 17
Young David looked at Goliath face-to-face. Physically there was hardly a comparison. Goliath was almost 10 feet tall, a warrior since birth, armed to the teeth, we read of his armor–he was like a human tank. David was nothing, a pesky mosquito, nothing more. Goliath strutted into the field of battle, and David was making his first trip.
Goliath begins to blaspheme. He boasts and mocks. In his mind he is superior. His arrogance knows no bounds. The center of the universe is the Philistine army, and he is their champion. Nothing can compare, the glory is his.
I find David to be exceptional. His reaction to the human mountain of Goliath was to run directly at him. This is astonishing. Goliath is a human wood chipper. Everyone who has faced him has been destroyed. There have been no survivors to speak of.
Many of us face a giant called “despair”. He has marched out on the field of battle confident of his ultimate triumph over us. We have been tutored that there are enemies that can destroy us. We’ve been indoctrinated to accept the inevitable with a spirit of meekness.
The concept and milieu of going to war has not been something that didn’t get passed on to us. The enemy giant of despair is real and brutal. Our destruction is inevitable in his mind. Despair believes he will destroy us. Its just a matter of time.
So many believers, cowed and intimidated, surrender to the boastings of the giant Despair. Hope, and faith are drained out of our being, and we become a empty spiritual shell. The “warfare” dimension gets nullified, and soon irrelevant. Despair reaches us and has the full intention of taking total control.
David ran to the battle. He passed through the dark intimidation and influence to approach Goliath. There was no passiveness or doubt to cloud his mind. David took a spiritually aggressive position, he took on the confusion and ran directly at the giant Goliath. His spirit was untouchable.
As believers, we struggle and pout. We turn our hearts over to despair. We become available to the enemies workings. And the confidence we might have through faith is dissipated into doubt and confusion. But the victory we have in Christ allows us the liberty, through the Blood of Him who defeats the goliath of despair.
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Posted on September 4, 2010 by Pastor Bryan Lowe