Just Keep Going and Going

 

Does it ever feel to you that caregivers are like the Energizer Bunny that just keeps going and going? The trouble is the energy doesn't always keep up with the need to keep going. Lol. I wish a battery that would keep me going and doing constantly. But we do wear out!

We get up every morning with an overloaded schedule of things that need to be done. It's an ever-growing to-do list but it never really gets any shorter. Even if we mark off today's tasks, they will be on tomorrow's brand new list and we'll do them all over again. And again. And again.

We keep going no matter what. Is there really any other choice? It can feel like there isn't. Many caregivers are going it totally alone with no one to help ease the load even a little bit. It can get tough. But we just keep going.

Maybe you had numerous people tell you they were going to help you - only to look up later and find that they had disappeared with the rest of the "crowd." But you just kept going.

What happens on those mornings when you wake up not feeling your best? There's no one to call to relieve you or help you navigate a less-than-perfect feelings day. So you just keep going.

Then there are those long nights that no one sees, and maybe don't want to see. Boy, those are some difficult times that wear on emotions, nerves, mental health and even our physical health. But you just kept going - you Energizer Bunny, you!

We know that God promises to give strength to the weary in Isaiah 40:31 - well, to those who wait on Him. I'm not sure as a caregiver we even have time to wait on Him some days. Does He forget us during those times.

Absolutely not! In fact, He knows we are not anything like the Energizer Bunny - except that we keep going and going and going - battery or not! And He's got grace enough for that, too. When we are crying, maybe we can't see Him sitting there collecting our tears - but not one escapes our eyes that He doesn't acknowledge and feel Himself. 

When we are up pulling those horrible all-nighters and we feel alone, maybe you aren't like me - shaking my fist in the air ranting about whether God can see me now or not... He gets it. And He is right there to carry the weary soul through whether we see Him, feel Him or even want Him to be there or not. He feels our pain.

I love that God doesn't leave when the going gets tough, thick, deep, or any other descriptive adjective you might prefer to use. He is right here and while we keep going and going and going.. so does His grace. His mercy. His peace. God is the true Energizer for the caregiver. It's through His mercy and grace carrying us that we can keep going. 

And let's talk about love for a minute. It's a deep unchallangable love that keeps us at the side of our loved one through caregiving's thicks and thins. The same type of love that held Jesus to the cross for us...and holds God at our side through the long days and longer nights of caregiving. He's got us.

Today, I'll remind myself that I can't out go the Lord - He can keep up with the hectic caregiving life. I'll keep my thoughts on how He is in my now with me and He doesn't have anywhere else to go - plus, He doesn't want to be somewhere else. His attention is not divided...it's on us - all of us all at one time! I'll think about how He's had us for this entire journey and He's not going anywhere but here today! So, I will trust that He can match the energy required for caregiving and He's not backing down! I will trust Him for just one more day. Will you join me?

Check out one of my best-selling books - 31 Days in Psalm 31. It's a devotional taken from Psalm 31 (obviously!) - a time when David was hiding in a cave from Saul - even though he'd been anointed the next king. The social isolation of caregiving can certainly make it feel like we live in a cave but God is there with us. And that's what this 31-day devotional is all about, exploring and discovering God in the caves of life. You can get the eBook from my shop at Buy Me A Coffee. Or the print and kindle versions are available in my Amazon Shop.