Guest post by Cecil Taylor

I had simply had enough. Sara’s depression was causing her to fall back into destructive patterns and habits, just like before. And before that. And before that.

In frustration, I blurted out, “I’ve given up hope that you will ever get this right. You’re not doing things to solve this.”

With a mixture of fear and anger, Sara cried out, “If you’ve given up hope, what’s the point of me going on? I need you to trust me!”

Her comments struck a chord in me that had never been played. I retreated to review what I knew about depressed people, both from reading and from my lived experience. I sought more sources online. I pondered. I prayed. I recommitted.

After crafting hopeful words, I shared them with Sara. She was surprised, grateful, and moved. I posted them on the wall above my laptop. My commitment stated:

I know it’s hard for you to carry hope. But until you can, I will carry hope for you. I will trust you, despite your setbacks. I will keep and protect your hope; come to me when you need some.

How do caregivers carry hope? When I read 1 Peter 3: 8 from a caregiver’s perspective, I realized hope-carrying starts with my attitude. Peter urges us to be sympathetic, compassionate, and humble.

It’s easy for a caregiver to lose sympathy. I don’t fully understand depressive states, but I can be sympathetic as I contemplate my own weaknesses. Compassion is Christ-like. It is pity turned into action. And humility—as a caregiver, I sometimes think I’m better than the one I care for. I must keep evaluating my attitude.

The needy one entrusts their caregiver with hope. It is our job to carry hope and to dispense it sympathetically, compassionately, and humbly. Hope is like a pill whose effect generously pours refreshing water over their soul.

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic,
love one another, be compassionate and humble.
1 Peter 3:8

Through his ministry, Cecil Taylor teaches Christians how to live a seven-day practical faith. To that end, he writes and delivers original books, videos, podcasts, blogs, and more. He also writes for Chicken Soup for the Soul and Guideposts. To learn more, visit CecilTaylorMinistries.com and UnisonParenting.com.

Tracy Crump dispenses hope in her award-winning book, Health, Healing, and Wholeness: Devotions of Hope in the Midst of Illness (CrossLink Publishing: 2021). A former intensive care nurse, she cared for her parents and her mother-in-law and understands both the burdens and joys of caregiving. Her devotions have been featured in Guideposts books, The Upper Room, and many other publications, and she has contributed 26 stories to Chicken Soup for the Soul® books. She also conducts writing workshops, produces a newsletter for writers, and does freelance editing. But her most important job is Grandma to five completely unspoiled grandchildren.