The Best Bible Verses for Caregiver Stress

Are you dealing with caregiver stress? This kind of stress is so hard to deal with. A caregiver like you can get so involved in meeting others’ needs that it’s easy to neglect yourself. Unfortunately, that can deplete you and wear you out.

If you have Bible verses ready to help you, you can find peace in stressful moments of caregiving. These verses can be like little lifesavers in your day. Study them, meditate on them, and pray them back to God so you can be the best possible caregiver. Here are Bible verses you can turn to when facing stress as a caregiver.

Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. – Genesis 2:3, NIV

Refuse to feel guilty about taking rest for yourself. God created rest for us at the very beginning of time. He rested from His work of creation not because he needed rest, but because he wanted to model the importance of rest to us. As a caregiver, you need rest to feel replenished so you can keep serving well. Try to create a regular sleep routine, so you can get rest daily to refresh yourself.

There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord. – Leviticus 23:3, NIV

Part of your rest from caregiving stress should be dedicated solely to worshipping God. When you take time each weekend to worship in person or online, you will feel a deeper connection to God that will carry you through your week. Connect with God daily in prayer and Bible study, then once a week review what you’ve learned through that daily connection time.

Sabbath rest is not only for worship; it is also for activities that refresh you. Choose at least one activity that you enjoy and make that a priority each weekend. This will give you something to anticipate with joy and will refill your cup so you will be better prepared to share with others.

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure. – Psalm 16:8-9 NIV

In moments of caregiver stress, you can remember this verse to know that God is always with you. When you feel shaken, remember he is right beside you. You always have reason to rejoice and be glad because he is keeping you in safety, no matter what challenges you are facing as a caregiver.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. – Psalm 23:1-3, NIV

Psalm 23 is a favorite when we need to rest and relax in God’s presence. When you feel like you are at your wit’s end as a caregiver, remember that the Lord is your shepherd who leads you beside peaceful streams. He will provide all that you need for your caregiving responsibilities, and then will let you rest in the green meadows of his abundance.

O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health. – Psalm 30:2, NIV

There will be times when you need to cry out to God for help in tough moments of caregiving. This is good for you to do so you do not become completely overwhelmed. Cry out to God when you feel at the limits of your physical, emotional, mental, relational, or spiritual health. He will restore you by giving you peace in that moment. Keep in mind that a Christian counselor can also assist you in receiving restoration.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. – Psalm 91:1, NIV

Psalm 91 is a wonderful passage to read when you feel weary from caregiver stress. You can find rest in the shadow of the Almighty when you run to him for shelter. God is your safe place, your refuge, and your security in times when you don’t know if you have anything left to give. You can pull Psalm 91 up on your phone to remind yourself of God’s constant presence while you are caregiving.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. – Psalm 139:14, NIV

As you devote yourself to caregiving, it’s easy to lose sight of how special you are in God’s eyes. Psalm 139 is an ideal place to go when you need to be reminded of your inestimable worth. When you feel underappreciated or overlooked as a caregiver, this song will remind you that God made you beautifully for the work that you are doing right now. Your work matters to him because you matter to him as his beloved child.

 

So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” – Acts 6:2-4, NIV

Is it possible for you to delegate any of your caregiving responsibilities to someone else? You could be experiencing caregiver stress if you are taking too much on yourself. This passage in Acts shows us the value of delegation. By delegating, you can put your focus on your primary role with greater efficiency. You can get help in deciding what tasks to delegate by speaking with a Christian counselor.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30, NIV

God doesn’t expect us to carry our burdens all on our own. If you give your burdens of caregiving stress over to God, he will do the heavy lifting for you. Turn to him when you are weary, and he will give rest to your soul. He will not overburden you, but instead, lift the load off of you with his supernatural power.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:37-40, NIV

Look at the priorities outlined in these verses: God, ourselves, and others. We must love ourselves to be able to love our neighbors well. To do the best you can as a caregiver, you must take care of yourself first so you can serve others well. Of course, if you put God first, all the other priorities will fall into line. As you commit your caregiving priorities to the Lord, he will empower you to serve others in his strength.

…not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. – Hebrews 10:25, NIV

As a caregiver, you are likely pressed for time, but you still need connections from other relationships to feel encouraged. Other believers will lift you up in prayer and full support when you reach out to them and worship with them. As you connect with others, you will feel replenished so that you can be the best caregiver that you can be.

Christian Counseling for Caregiver Stress

These Bible verses are a great encouragement for you in times of caregiver stress. But when you need more help because you feel burnt out, anxious, or weary most days that’s when you can turn to a Christian counselor.

Your counselor can give you objective insights into your problems as well as practical help based on biblical principles. In counseling sessions, you will learn ways to handle your stress and streamline your schedule. Reach out to us today for the specific help you need as a caregiver.