Caring Deeply for Others

Not all worry is selfish. Sometimes it’s love. Paul praises Timothy for genuinely caring about the Philippians’ well-being so much that he calls Timothy one of a kind. That kind of care is rare, and it matters to God.

Maybe you know what that feels like—to lose sleep over a friend walking through a hard season. To carry your child’s struggles in your heart. To feel your coworker’s stress as if it were your own. Love often looks like concern. That’s not wrong, it’s human.

But caring deeply can cross a line into anxiety when we start believing everything depends on us. Loving people is good. Trying to fix everything for them? That’s a weight you were never meant to carry.

Timothy cared, but he didn’t lead the church in his own strength. He trusted God to do what only God can do. You can do the same. Love fully. Pray often. But resist the lie that their future rests in your hands.

What would happen if, instead of replaying your worries over someone you love, you released them to God—over and over again?

Reflect: Who are you caring for today? How can you release control to God instead of carrying it alone? Is there one simple way God is inviting you to show care for them today?

Pray: God, I care about ________. Help me love them well without trying to control or fix what only you can handle.