As caregivers, we often struggle with prayer … what to pray, or even how to pray.  Watching a loved one suffer, slip away mentally, or flail about due to affliction is a crushing and painful experience.  Mounting bills, relentless drama, and unyielding heartache seem to comprise a caregiver’s day.

Wrestling with this in my own life, I put pen to paper to help guide my weary heart in prayer.  Drawing upon scripture verses, great hymns of the faith, and the countless prayers of others, I wrote The Caregiver’s Prayer.  When words fail me, this prayer helps redirect my tear-filled eyes and my weary heart to back to the unfailing love and strength of our Father.

The Caregiver’s Prayer

Heavenly Father, I love _______.

I have committed my life to caring for ______.

Yet I know the task is greater than my abilities.

As I seek to help another,

I ask for strength to shoulder the burdens before me.

Yet I also ask for the wisdom to know what is mine to carry.

I ask for the courage to admit my failures and make amends.

I thank you for your grace and mercy,

and ask that you help me daily apply it to myself and extend it to others.

As I walk through this long valley of the shadow of death,

I ask for a deeper awareness of your presence to calm my fears.

As I glance backwards, may I only see your provision.

As I look forward, may my eyes see your guidance.

May I reflect you as I minister to this one whom I love.

I pray all this in the name of your son, Jesus Christ,

Who laid down his own life …for me.

© 2014 Peter W. Rosenberger, HOPE FOR THE CAREGIVER