In this second part of this episode i want to explore feelings of Anxiety: Anxiety about the future, anxiety about the treatment, anxiety about your partner's health, anxiety about finances or other practical concerns.
About the anxiety, the fear of caring for someone going through cancer treatments.
Having been to an array of scans, oncologist , tests, treatments and operations. I have witnessed the range of emotional turmoil and highs and lows that come with cancer treatments. The known and unknown play havoc with our minds. It can be excruciatingly difficult to cope and you can’t focus on anything but the worrying. Invasive thoughts come into your mind and compound the problems associated with anxiety.
What do I do, I panic a little, anxiety creeps in. I get that awful crushing feeling and become restless. My wife is poorly, I can’t fix this, I can’t protect her. Arrrrghhhh. It’s tough isn't it!
There is professional help and medication to help you with anxieties. What I want to tell you here is that there is something more than these, something you have freely available to you. Do you know there is power in the name of Jesus? Just spending 10 minutes speaking to Jesus, in prayer you can ask him to take the anxiety away and free you from its chains of fear and worry.
Having a Christian faith, believing that Jesus died for our sins, this can provide caregivers with spiritual resources and support that can help them cope with the challenges of caring for someone undergoing treatments for breast cancer.
In the Holy Bible: written by the apostle Paul, his letter to early Christians in Philippi, modern day Greece. Philippians 4:6-7: Paul writes,
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
This passage is significant and helps us as to a carers dealing with anxiety in a few ways:
1. it is an Encouragement to Turn to Prayer: These verses tell us that anxiety can be relieved through prayer and petition. This brings us comfort and reassurance when we feel overwhelmed by our responsibilities. Prayer also provides an outlet for expressing fears and concerns that we may not feel able to express elsewhere.
2. We should also express our Gratitude: The passage also mentions thanksgiving, which tells us to practice gratitude. We can seek to cultivate a grateful perspective even through trials. This gratitude could be toward our strength, the resource to provide care, any improvements in the health of the person we are caring for, or other positive aspects of our life.
3. Promises Peace: when feeling anxious, the assurance that peace is a much-needed beacon of hope. The peace mentioned here is promised to be a guarding peace, one that will protect our hearts and minds. This peace transcends all understanding, meaning that even in the midst of challenging circumstances, a profound sense of calm is possible.
4. Life in Christ: Lastly, these verses emphasise that this peace and comfort come "in Christ Jesus." Those who have a faith background may find solace and strength in the belief that we are not alone in our struggles, we can lean on our faith and our spiritual community.
So, while the scriptures do not negate the reality of our challenges, they can offer us strength, perspective, and a promise of peace that helps us as carers cope with the anxiety associated with our caregiving role.
Another way of using my faith in my anxieties includes:
1. Prayer: Turning to prayer and spiritual practices can provide comfort and strength when facing difficult circumstances. Prayer helped ease my anxieties and provided a sense of peace during the times of stress.
2. Community: I found support and encouragement through my faith community. Connecting with others who share similar beliefs and values provided a sense of belonging and a source of practical and emotional support for us.
3. Hope: My faith emphasised the importance of hope and trust in God's plan. This provided reassurance to us that even in difficult times, there is still a purpose and a greater plan at work.
4. Compassion My faith called me to show compassion and love towards others, including those who are suffering. This mindset helped me provide care with a compassionate and empathetic heart.
5. Strength: I also drew strength from my faith to endure and persevere in my caregiving role. When I faced long and difficult days, my faith provided the inner strength I needed to keep going.
Overall, my Christian faith gave me a strong foundation of spiritual support and resources and enhanced the care and support I provided Catherine whilst she was undergoing treatments for her breast cancer.
Closing prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We are here in Your presence, seeking Your divine guidance and strength. Lord, we lift up to You all the caregivers who are tirelessly devoting themselves to caring for loved ones. Each day they are confronted with challenges, stress, and anxiety. We pray, Father, that they may lean upon Your boundless grace and mercy for enduring strength.
May Your Word resound in their hearts, reminding them, "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10). Give them the wisdom to understand Your teachings and the strength to carry their duties consistently, reflecting Your healing love and compassion.
Help them, Father, to endure moments of frustration, sadness or despair, reassure them during their darkest hours and remind them of Your promise in 1 Peter 5:7: "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." Whenever they feel overwhelmed, may they find solace in Your presence, laying down their burdens at Your feet and feeling Your comforting love envelop them.
May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). Inspire them to find rest and refreshment in You, and give them the patience to take one day at a time, offering their actions to You as a manifestation of their faith.
Grant them the support and community they need, reminding them that they are not alone in their journey. Empower them to seek help when they need it, and guide others to show kindness, understanding, and to provide a helping hand when it is needed.
Bless them, Lord Jesus, with moments of peace, joy, and deep connection with the ones they care for, reminding them of the positive impact they create in these lives each and every day.
Lastly, Father, we ask for Your protection. Cover them under Your mighty wings, provide them with peace and strength, and renew their spirits each day. Help them to remember that "They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).
In Jesus' mighty name, we pray Amen.
Comments