When Compassion Fatigue Hits Hard

There are moments when the weight of the world feels too heavy to carry—especially for those who are natural caregivers, helpers, and encouragers. In today's devotional, Alexis A. Goring explores compassion fatigue—a very real emotional exhaustion that can happen when you’re constantly giving of yourself to help others.

Drawing from Psalm 145:9, “The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made,” we’re reminded that while we may reach the end of our emotional strength, God never does. He never tires, never grows weary, and always has time for your burdens.

We encourage you to pause and pray: “Lord, help me cast my cares on You and remind me that I don’t need to carry it all. Thank You for your limitless compassion.”

Whether you're in ministry, caregiving, or just the “strong friend” who everyone leans on, today is your invitation to unplug, rest, and reconnect with the One who never sleeps. God is the only one truly capable of caring for everyone—and that includes you.

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When was the last time you experienced compassion fatigue? What helped you get through it? Share with us on social media @LifeaudioNetwork or send us an email. Let’s support each other in remembering that it’s okay to step back—and to lean into God’s everlasting care.

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Full Transcript Below:

Compassion Fatigue 

A devotional by Alexis A. Goring

“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 from all of it.

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 then compassion fatigue might be a common experience for you. However, I say that 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 who need help solving issues and surviving the curveballs that life throws at them. God has gifted us with healthcare professionals who we can 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 who is known to be the “strong” friend and who is often treated by people—even complete strangers—as a counselor, I know how compassion fatigue feels. I want to be there for everyone, and I do follow through on my promises to pray for people who need prayer support. But there are times when 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 problems of the world.

It is when you feel overwhelmed that you are reminded that you’re only human and cannot help everyone, every time. 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 has a plan 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, He never grows weary of hearing about our needs. The Bible says in Hebrews 4:16 (NLT), “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will 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 troubles of the world 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 like He tells you to do. There have been times in my life 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 and 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. Let’s go to Him next time we feel overwhelmed by the problems in our world and let’s trust Him to take care of everything that concerns us. Only God can fix everything and help everyone. 

In closing, I’d like for you to listen to this song by Phil Wickham titled “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

Notes for Tiffany (editor):

Would you please insert the hyperlink for the website for Psychology Today in my devotional where I talked about compassion fatigue? Here is the link to the definition of “Compassion Fatigue” on Psychology Today:

Compassion Fatigue | Psychology Today

Would you please insert the hyperlink for the song “It’s Always Been You” by Phil Wickham where I’ve mentioned it in my devotional? Here is the link: https://youtu.be/58pBvQa0XSM?si=J3UglIdsRIYy4Iig

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