Introduction
Japan is one of the oldest societies in the world, and a great many people care at home for a sick or elderly relative. Many older couples care for each other, and others must balance work with caregiving. Caught up in daily tasks, you put yourself last and carry your tiredness with no one to tell. This page gives no medical advice and no care methods; it gathers words from the Bible to accompany the hearts of those who help. These 20 verses, quoted from the World English Bible, are grouped into four themes: strength in weariness, patience, loving service, and rest and mutual support. Read just one a day, slowly.
Receiving Strength in Weariness
1. 2 Corinthians 12:9
"He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me."
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness, the Lord told Paul. In caregiving there are days when you feel your limits. It is precisely in that weakness that God's power works. You do not have to be a perfect caregiver; what you can do today is enough. Read all of 2 Corinthians 12.
2. Psalm 68:19
"Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation."
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, sings the psalm. The weight of care comes back every day. But the Lord also carries your burden with you every day. When you wake up, why not hand it to him in prayer? You do not have to carry everything alone. Read all of Psalm 68.
3. Psalm 29:11
"Yahweh will give strength to his people. Yahweh will bless his people with peace."
Yahweh will give strength to his people; Yahweh will bless his people with peace. Strength and peace are two gifts from God. In a short pause between two tasks, breathing deeply, say this verse slowly. You do not have to manufacture strength and peace; you receive them from the One who gives them. Read all of Psalm 29.
4. Isaiah 50:4
"The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary. He awakens morning by morning, he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught."
The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary, says the prophet. A word to the person you care for can be a great comfort. When you cannot find words, ask God for wisdom. There is One who awakens the ear morning by morning. Read all of Isaiah 50.
5. Isaiah 40:31
"but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint."
Those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength; they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not faint. Days of caregiving are like a marathon. When body and heart are exhausted, a quiet time of waiting on God gives you fresh strength. In prayer, stop for a moment. Read all of Isaiah 40.
Walking with Patience
6. Romans 12:12
"rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer;"
Rejoicing in hope, enduring in troubles, continuing steadfastly in prayer, Paul urges. Rejoicing can be hard when you are caring for someone. Yet you can find small hopes: a smile today, a meal eaten. See God's grace in these little things, give thanks and keep praying. Read all of Romans 12.
7. Romans 5:3-4
"Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope:"
Suffering produces perseverance, perseverance proven character, and proven character hope, writes Paul. This verse does not make suffering beautiful; it shows what God grows in those who have passed through it. Even if you cannot see it, believe your perseverance is not lost in God's eyes. Read all of Romans 5.
8. Hebrews 10:36
"For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise."
You need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise. Caregiving can seem endless. Endurance is not only putting up with things; it is also waiting in faith. When you sense your limit, do not hold on at all costs: ask for help around you. Read all of Hebrews 10.
9. Psalm 40:1
"I waited patiently for Yahweh. He turned to me, and heard my cry."
I waited patiently for Yahweh; he turned to me and heard my cry, says the psalmist. God hears even feelings so heavy that they make you cry out. You can bring him your anger, your tiredness or your sighs just as they are. As you turn them into prayer, you feel a little lighter. Read all of Psalm 40.
10. Lamentations 3:25-26
"Yahweh is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of Yahweh."
It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of Yahweh, says Lamentations. When you cannot see what lies ahead in care, impatience and anxiety grow. But this time of quiet waiting is never wasted. Give God today's share of the day; tomorrow, he will provide. Read all of Lamentations 3.
Serving with Love
11. Matthew 25:40
"“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’"
Because you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me, Jesus said. The meals, the help dressing, the time spent beside your relative: the Bible says it is as if you did it to Jesus. God sees the work that nobody notices. Read all of Matthew 25.
12. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
"Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things."
Love is patient and is kind; it is not provoked; it bears all things and endures all things, writes Paul. In days of caregiving you sometimes get irritated: do not condemn yourself too much. A person cannot love perfectly. God's love fills what you lack; receive it in prayer. Read all of 1 Corinthians 13.
13. 1 Peter 4:10
"As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms."
As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God, writes Peter. Caregiving is one way of using a gift. But you do not have to take on everything alone: family, neighbors, church and support services are also graces that come from God. Read all of 1 Peter 4.
14. Colossians 3:12
"Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;"
Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility and perseverance, says Paul. Caring demands these qualities every day. But we do not manufacture them; we put them on. In the morning, as you put on your clothes, put on the gentleness God gives, in prayer, before you begin your day. Read all of Colossians 3.
15. 1 John 3:18
"My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth."
Let's not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth, says John. You who care for your relative show your love precisely through deeds. That love is precious and heavy. Do not forget that you too are a person loved by God, who deserves to be looked after. Read all of 1 John 3.
Resting and Supporting One Another
16. 1 Kings 19:7
"Yahweh’s angel came again the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.”"
Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you, the angel told exhausted Elijah. God first asked him to eat and sleep. Those who help must also rest and eat. Taking time for yourself is not selfishness; it is what God prepares, and it is what allows you to keep going. Read all of 1 Kings 19.
17. Ecclesiastes 4:12
"If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken."
A threefold cord is not quickly broken, says Ecclesiastes. Caregiving is a cord made of you, your family and God. Do not keep everything to yourself: speak to a support service in your town, or to your church. Asking for help is not weakness; it is wisdom. Read all of Ecclesiastes 4.
18. Matthew 11:28
"“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest."
Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest, Jesus invites. This call is for the exhausted. Between tasks, take five or ten minutes of prayer in a quiet place. Jesus is waiting to give you rest. Read all of Matthew 11.
19. Psalm 131:2
"Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me."
I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother, says the psalmist. When the heart is agitated, consciously taking time to quiet your soul is important. You too, quiet your soul. Picture yourself resting in God's arms like a baby. Read all of Psalm 131.
20. Psalm 121:3-4
"He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."
He who keeps you will not slumber, says the psalm. Even in nights when caregiving keeps you from sleep, God does not sleep: he watches over you and over the one you care for. When you must get up in the night, remember this verse. He keeps watch in your place. Read all of Psalm 121.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Which verse should I read when I am worn out from caring for a relative?
Matthew 11:28, "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened," and Psalm 68:19, which says the Lord daily bears our burdens, are often read. Do not read many at once: choose a single verse and savor it.
I blame myself for feeling anger or irritation.
These feelings are natural for people who have helped for a long time. The Psalms contain many prayers that pour out anger and complaint before God. Tell him honestly what you feel, and if needed talk to a support service or someone close to you.
How can a church support those who care for a relative?
Some churches offer prayer support, visits, meals or rides to worship. Do not hesitate to tell your pastor or church about your situation. For medical decisions, please consult professionals.