When Compassion Fatigue Hits Hard
By Alexis A. Goring
Bible Reading:
“The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”— Psalm 145:9 NIV
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed?
I remember when a minister friend of mine told me that when she feels overwhelmed by people’s issues, she unplugs from social media, turns off her phone, and shuts down her computer to take a break.
Soon after, I realized that she was describing compassion fatigue. According to Psychology Today, “People whose professions lead to prolonged exposure to other people’s trauma can be vulnerable to compassion fatigue, also known as secondary or vicarious trauma; they can experience acute symptoms that put their physical and mental health at risk, making them wary of giving and caring.”
When you are a minister or professional counselor, compassion fatigue might be a common experience. However, anybody who cares about people and wants to help fix problems can experience this kind of fatigue. Let’s face it: There are a lot of problems in our world, and many people need help solving issues and surviving the curveballs that life throws at them. God has gifted us with healthcare professionals to go to when we need help. But these talented people—as wonderful and effective as they may be—are only human. So that means even the most helpful professional has their limits.
As the type of person known to be the “strong” friend and often treated by people—even strangers—as a counselor, I understand how compassion fatigue feels. I want to be there for everyone and follow through on my promises to pray for people who need prayer support. But sometimes, I feel stretched thin and overloaded with requests for help. So, like my minister friend, I also unplug from social media, turn off my computer, don’t touch the television or my phone, and try to take a break from the world's problems.
When you feel overwhelmed, you are reminded that you’re only human and cannot always help everyone. Compassion fatigue is real. But gratefully, we serve a God who never experiences this kind of fatigue, nor will He ever because, unlike us mere mortals, our Immortal God has no limits. His love for us endures forever, and He always plans to save us. He is always available to listen to our pain and solve our problems 24/7/365 because the Bible says He never sleeps (Psalm 121:4)!
Aren’t you glad we have this kind of help? Not only does God never feel fatigued, but He never grows weary of hearing about our needs. In Hebrews 4:16 (NLT), the Bible says, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy and find grace to help us when we need it most.” Whatever is on our hearts, God wants to hear it. Whatever is negatively affecting us, He wants to help. When the world's troubles overwhelm us, there is a solution for that, too, because the Bible says in 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV), “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
When we feel compassion fatigue, it is time to have a heart-to-heart with Jesus Christ—practice casting your cares on Him as He tells you to do. There have been times when I didn’t cast my cares on Jesus. Instead, I worried and ruminated over all the problems and thought deeply about how I could fix everything. That approach only led to my problems being magnified, my anxiety heightened, and I felt powerless to do anything about any of it. However, in times when I remembered what the Bible says to do when you’re worried, and I applied that Biblical advice to my life, it was then that I finally felt free because I learned to trust Jesus and believe He will work everything out for my good just like He promises to in Romans 8:28.
Compassion fatigue is real, but so is God. Next time we feel overwhelmed by the problems in our world, let’s go to Him and trust Him to take care of everything that concerns us. Only God can fix everything and help everyone.
I’d like you to listen to Phil Wickham's song “It’s Always Been You.” The lyrics remind us that God is always with us and here to help us.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? How does knowing you can trust God to solve your problems help you?
Further Reading:
Psalm 103:13
Psalm 86:15
2 Corinthians 1:3
Isaiah 41:10
Matthew 28:20
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Ridofranz
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