Faith Gives Me Strength
I like to share with anyone interested how blessed I am to have Jesus in my life. Without my faith to give me strength during times of crisis, I honestly don’t know how I could have managed many of my past challenges. However, each time I felt despair or fear, my faith in Christ not only gave me strength but provided me with comfort, too.
Feelings of Isolation
Like many caregivers, I frequently feel isolated and alone when keeping vigil over my husband during hospital admissions and when providing daily care. Although I’m fortunate to have many devoted family and friends, the reality of life prevents most of my support from being available to help or provide regular aid.
Not One-Sided
Admittedly, the breakdown is not one-sided. I fail to fulfill my end of relationships, too. Rarely do I find the time to initiate a call, and seldom can I visit. In addition, I don’t like to ask for help because I understand how stressed out most of my support system is already, and I don’t want to add to their burden. The consequence is that I often feel lonely, abandoned, and unloved by others. While my head may know that’s not true, my heart still feels that way when I am exhausted and overwhelmed.
Not Alone
However, if I remember to talk to God during those times, I realize I’m not alone. God’s there whether I “feel” Him or not. When I’m physically exhausted and emotionally spent, my emotions become numb, preventing me from feeling joy. If I feel at all, my emotions are likely to be negative. However, in those moments, I am confident in my faith that I am not alone. (Hebrews 11:1) “Now, Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
