In July of 2021, I ran my first challenge as a ministry. It was the Courageous Care 5-day challenge, and it walked women through five obstacles that prevent us from reaching out to those around us who are hurting.
What was a challenge became a masterclass, which became a book. And it features the key principle behind what Love Does That is all about: that God has called every one of us to care for those around us who are going through difficult seasons. To walk alongside them. To love them. To support them.
Because, as Michael Slater said, “To hurt is bad enough, but to hurt alone destroys people physically, mentally, and spiritually.”
Courageous Care is all about discovering how God has designed you to do this, to care for others. And last summer, I had the chance to teach about the CARE framework to a group of pastor’s wives.
Today, I want to share that opening part of that message with you. And I lovingly and gently ask you, what is stopping you from caring for others? Which of the five obstacles hits closest to home? Take a few minutes to journal about it once the episode is over and see what God might have to say to that.
If you want to learn more, you can grab my Courageous Care book on Amazon, and if you or your church or book club would be interested in having me speak, you can ask about that at lovedoesthat.org/speaking.
Now, let’s listen in those beginning moments of my message. And though I’m speaking directly to pastor’s wives here, know I’m talking to you, too.
[Excerpt from speaking engagement]
RELATED EPISODES:
- Episode 2: Discerning Who to Encourage
- Episode 31: Why You Can’t Let Failure Stop You From Reaching Out
- Episode 69: The Problem with “What Not to Say” Lists and What You Need to Know Instead
- Episode 158: Burdens vs. Loads: Discerning When to Help Someone
Coming close to your grief and entering into it can be scary. Overwhelming, even.
Journal Gently is an 8-week program designed to help you bring your hurt to God on the pages of your journal in a gentle and graceful way, whether your hurt includes grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, chronic illness, loneliness, and more.
