Honoring Caregivers: How to Find Strength, Rest, and Renewal When You’re Pouring Out Constantly – Episode 358

by | Podcast | 0 comments

Podcast with Dr. Michelle Bengtson and Rev. Jessica Van Roekel sharing about honoring caregivers.

Listen to the podcast below and on your favorite platform or Watch on YouTube:

   Listen to Your Hope-Filled Perspective on LifeAudio 

 

 

Episode Summary:

Caring for others is one of the most beautiful expressions of Christlike love, yet it can also be one of the most exhausting. Whether someone is caring for an aging parent, a chronically ill spouse, a child with special needs, or a friend struggling through a difficult diagnosis, caregivers often experience emotional fatigue, compassion overload, and spiritual depletion.

In honor of National Caregiver’s Day, today on Your Hope Filled Perspective we are shining a bright and honoring spotlight on caregivers who quietly pour out strength and tenderness day after day. If you are a caregiver who feels seen and unseen all at once, this conversation is for you.

Quotables from the episode:

  • In this episode we want to acknowledge the deep emotional and spiritual cost that comes with caregiving, whether it’s caring for children, spouses, parents or someone else. Many caregivers love fiercely yet carry silent burdens. They often neglect their own rest while tending to the needs of others. They juggle responsibilities, appointments, medications, medical decisions, financial pressures, and emotional strain until their own souls feel frayed. If that describes you, know that God sees every moment of sacrifice. He understands every tear cried in private. He knows how heavy this calling can feel. Whether you are in a short-term caregiving season or you have been carrying this responsibility for years, we want to help you find strength, rest, and spiritual renewal.
  • This topic is powerful because so many people listening either are caregivers, have been caregivers, or will be caregivers in the future. The numbers are sobering. Research from the National Alliance for Caregiving reports that more than 53 million Americans currently serve as caregivers in some capacity. That is one in five adults. The majority provide unpaid care, and on average they spend over twenty hours a week supporting a loved one. For many, it becomes a second full time job. Caregivers give so much of themselves physically emotionally mentally and spiritually. They are often the first to show up and the last to stop serving. They walk into some of the hardest seasons of loved ones and remain present with compassion. Yet they are also some of the most exhausted people walking into church or home at the end of the day.
  • As a neuropsychologist I have seen countless caregivers who reach a point of burnout because their own emotional and spiritual needs remain unmet. They want to do everything well and they often feel guilty for even thinking about rest. Yet God created rest not as a luxury but as a divine necessity. He invites caregivers to receive the strength they need directly from His presence.
  • And what surprises a lot of people is that caregivers often experience worse physical and emotional health than the person they are caring for. Studies consistently show that caregivers are more likely to experience chronic stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, weakened immune functioning, and long-term health decline. In fact, caregivers who support a spouse with dementia have one of the highest rates of stress related illness in the nation. Caregiving is a ministry, but it is also a risk factor when someone has no support.
  • Caregivers often do not realize how overwhelmed they are until they are already close to burnout. They believe they should be able to keep going. They think rest is selfish. They feel guilty for asking for help. But caregiving is not meant to be a one-person mission. Even Jesus received help from Simon of Cyrene when He carried the cross. If Jesus accepted help, then we can too. It reminds me of the verse from Jeremiah 31.25 where God says He will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. Caregivers live in the constant tension of loving someone deeply while holding the weight of their needs. But God sees them. Even if others overlook their sacrifice God does not.
  • Pressures Caregivers Face
    • Many feel chronic stress from continual decision making. There is compassion fatigue which happens when someone is constantly giving emotional energy without replenishing it. There is physical tiredness from interrupted sleep or long days of medical tasks. There is also loneliness because caregiving can limit social connection. And on top of that there is guilt when caregivers take even a moment for themselves.
    • I often hear caregivers say they feel they cannot ask for help. They worry they are burdening others. But caregiving was never meant to be done alone. Scripture repeatedly emphasizes community support and shared burdens. God designed His people to lift one another up. When caregivers try to do everything alone, they are carrying more than God asked them to hold.
  • When You Can No Longer Go It Alone
    • Let us talk about warning signs that a caregiver can no longer afford to keep going alone. Caregiver burnout does not happen overnight. It happens slowly and quietly, often while someone is trying to be strong for everyone else. Some early signs include irritability, difficulty concentrating, persistent fatigue, and feeling overwhelmed during simple tasks. People might notice that they are becoming easily frustrated or emotionally numb.
    • Another sign is physical symptoms. Frequent headaches, stomach issues, lowered immunity, or body aches can be indicators that stress is taking a toll. Sleep problems are extremely common. Many caregivers live in a constant state of high alert, so their bodies never fully rest. Over time, the lack of sleep begins to affect thinking, memory, and mood. if your own health is declining, that is a sign you need help. If you have ignored your own doctors’ appointments, stopped exercising, or are developing physical symptoms that concern you, it is time to seek support.
    • If your emotional health is deteriorating, if you feel anxious more often than calm or sad more often than stable, if you are crying privately and feeling alone, reach out. God designed us for connection, not silent suffering. I would also add this. When caregivers begin to lose their ability to feel joy, or when they begin to resent the role they once embraced willingly, that is a sign that they are carrying more than they can manage alone. When every day feels heavy and hopeless and when someone feels like they have nothing left to give, it is time to reach out for support.
    • That is such an important point. God never intended caregiving to be an isolating burden. Galatians teaches us to carry one another’s burdens. That includes the weight of caregiving. Asking for help is not a failure. It is a biblical principle.
    • Third, if the needs of your loved one now exceed your physical ability, such as lifting, transferring, or managing complex medical tasks, do not ignore that. Many caregivers injure themselves trying to do more than their bodies can handle.
    • Fourth, if caregiving responsibilities are affecting your relationship with your spouse or children, that is a sign that the load needs to be shared. God does not ask us to sacrifice one relationship to save another. Everyone’s well-being matters.
    • Fifth, if you have begun feeling resentful or emotionally disconnected, that is a powerful signal that your soul is in need of restoration. You cannot pour out what has not been filled.
  • Biblical Hope for Worn Out Caregivers
    • There are so many Scriptures that speak directly to the heart of a caregiver. Psalm 73.26 says that even when our flesh and heart fail, God is the strength of our heart. That is an incredible promise for those who feel worn down.
    • Isaiah 40:29 tells us that God gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Caregivers often believe they must manufacture strength on their own, but God is the source of supernatural strength.
    • Psalm 18:28 says that God turns our darkness into light. Caregiving can feel dark at times, especially when someone watches a loved one decline. God brings light into even these places.
    • I love Jeremiah 31:25 where God promises to refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. That is the heart of God toward caregivers.
  • Practical Ways Caregivers Can Renew Their Strength
    • One of the most powerful practices is creating small moments of spiritual grounding throughout the day. Even sixty seconds of quiet prayer or attention to your breathing can calm the nervous system and help the heart reconnect with God.
    • Another powerful practice is asking for help early instead of waiting until a crisis. Reach out to your church, family, friends, or community resources. Many churches have caregiver support teams who are eager to help but do not know the need unless someone speaks up.
    • I encourage caregivers to create a simple weekly rhythm. That might include a ten-minute walk outside, reading one Psalm a day, listening to worship music while doing chores, or having one guilt free hour of rest each week. These small moments rebuild emotional strength.
    • Pay attention to your body. If you are not sleeping well, if you are skipping meals, if you are running on adrenaline, your body is telling you something. God created the body to signal when we need rest. Ignoring those signals only increases burnout.
    • And stay connected with others. Isolation makes caregiving harder. Even one supportive friend can be a lifeline. Text someone. Call someone. Invite someone to pray with you. God often restores our strength through community.
    • I want caregivers to hear this truth. You are not responsible for outcomes. You are responsible to love well and to walk faithfully, but God holds the results. Release the pressure you have been carrying. God sees you. He values you. He will strengthen you.
    • God delights in refreshing your soul. You do not have to earn rest. Rest is part of His gift to you. He gently invites you to come to Him when you are weary. He will provide for the needs you feel responsible to meet.

Scripture References:

  • Isaiah 40:29 “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”
  • Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
  • Psalm 18:28 “You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.”
  • Jeremiah 31:25 “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

 

Recommended Resources: (If there are affiliate links in this post, meaning, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no extra cost to you)).

 

Caregiving is one of the most beautiful ways to love, and one of the most exhausting. You were never meant to carry it alone. This week’s episode honors caregivers and offers hope, rest, and renewal. Share on X If you are caring for someone you love and running on empty, this conversation is for you. We talk about burnout, biblical rest, and how God renews weary hearts. Share on X

 

Social Media Links for Host and Co-Host:

Connect with Co-Host Reverend Jessica Van Roekel:

Website / Instagram / Facebook

 

For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at:

Order Book Sacred Scars / Order book The Hem of His Garment / Order book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails  / Order Book Hope Prevails Bible Study /  Website  /  Blog  /  Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson)  /  LinkedIn  /  Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple

 

About Co-Host Rev. Jessica Van Roekel:

Jessica Van Roekel, authorJessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others.

 

 

 

Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson
Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson

 

Are you caring for someone you love and running on empty? This episode explores burnout, biblical rest, and how God renews weary hearts. You’ll also find a free caregiver burnout warning sign checklist in the show notes.

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
Email

Leave a Reply

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
Email