How to be Strong and Courageous in the Lord

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Devotions, Hope, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, Memoir, Prayers

How to be Strong and Courageous in the Lord

Part of learning to care for a person with a chronic illness understands how to be strong and courageous in the Lord.

Facing caring for a person with a chronic or terminal illness is a scary daily challenge for both the person with the disease, their family and the caregiver. Through Jesus Christ, we can be strong and courageous.

How can we do this?

We cannot do this in our strength by ourselves. Daily the Lord Jesus our God goes with the Christian. We need to remember he goes with us.

Today’s Scripture tells us the Lord will not leave or forsake the Believer in Jesus Christ.

My Story

One of the first thoughts I had when my wife received the diagnosis she had stage three Melanoma was how I am going to care for her and love her unconditionally until she dies. I knew the Melanoma was going to kill her unless God intervened. I wondered if she would follow the doctor’s orders. Would my wife let me help her? How would she react?

In time all the questions were answered. It didn’t happen in one day. There was some give and take. My spouse had to have a heart to heart with me which included telling me to back off and give her some space as I was smothering her with kindness and care.

She didn’t need me reacting as if every little event a matter she encountered was a life or death event. I learned she needed me to be there. She needed my calm, steady presence. A simple example is when I had a ball game on, and she came into the room I would change channels on the television to her favorite HGTV program. I stayed in the room with her instead of going to the bedroom and continuing the ballgame. If I were cleaning or doing other housework, I would give her my attention and be with her.

In her last days of hospice care, she told me how much my just being there with her meant to her. She said I could get the house spotless after she was in heaven, but until then she needed the ministry of my presence. She needed me to be strong and courageous as I spent time with her.

Bible Verse

Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV), “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

What the Verse Means

Because Christians have God with them, they should be of good courage. The courage comes from their confident assurance in God which faith gives. This sure faith in Christ allows us to face each day bravely knowing through him we shall have the ultimate victory.

Pray Using Scripture

  • Heavenly Father, please help me and my family to continue to be strong and courageous in the face this illness.
  • Holy Spirit, I ask for your comfort. Help me to not fear or be in dread of the challenges I face. Help me not to grow weary.
  • Thank you for letting me know it is the Lord our God who goes with me and that he will not leave me or forsake me.
  • I pray my family and loved ones would confess faith in Jesus Christ where they too can experience the comfort available to Christians.

Responding to God’s Hope

  1. What are two areas that you are fearful of failing in as you care for your loved one? Name them.
  2. Take the two items you identified in question 1. Admit your fears to God. Ask God for the faith you need to face fear courageously. 
  3. Realize that God has entrusted you already with your loved one’s care. He’s put them under your supervision; God will equip you for the daily challenges you face. Thank God for the confidence He has placed in you, and for the way, He helps you daily as you care for your loved one.

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Photo Source: Pixabay

This article is from the forthcoming book, “Hope for the Caregiver: A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional Approach.”

Published by Jim Kepler

Meet Jim Kepler, the guy who doesn't just write – he lives and breathes life with a touch of faith. You'll catch him exploring the world, nose buried in books and poetry, scribbling away in coffee shops, and vibing to an eclectic playlist, all through the lens of a Biblical worldview. Need advice on penning your masterpiece? Jim's got you covered. He says, “Why wait? It's never too late to dive into writing. The present is the perfect time to start.” As an author, poet, and blogger, his words aren't just for show – they resonate with folks across the world. His numerous books? They're not just books; they're a passion project. Jim's all about helping you know Jesus Christ, making Him your Lord and Savior, and weaving the Bible and Jesus' teachings into your everyday life. Wanna dive deeper into Jim's world? Hit up his website jimmiekepler.com, drop by on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), catch him on Instagram and even see and hear him on his YouTube channel. It's a literary journey worth joining!

2 thoughts on “How to be Strong and Courageous in the Lord”

  1. Wow, Jimmie. You have quite a forever-love story, don’t you? I’m so sorry for your heartache, but I appreciate your honesty and vulnerability to share your words that will help others! A caregiver is a challenging and rewarding, difficult and compassionate role to assume. May God continue to bless you as you navigate the grief that is permanently etched on your heart.

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  2. Beautiful post, Jimmie. Your advice is so needed and you wrote with such sensitivity. I love the way you applied Deuteronomy 31:6. We do need courage and the sense of God’s presence as we care for our loved ones.
    Memories of being a caregiver for Mom and then for my mother-in-law brought tears to my eyes. Although some are difficult, they’re overshadowed by the blessings God poured out on my family during those years.

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