316. How Christian Caregivers Can Release Fear About the Year Ahead With Dementia — Wisdom for What You Can’t Control

What do you do when the calendar turns to January, but dementia has made even Tuesday uncertain?

In this end-of-year episode of Dementia Caregivers Support for Christians, Lizette speaks directly to Christian family caregivers who feel pressured to plan, decide, and resolve everything for the year ahead—while living in the unpredictable reality of dementia.

This episode does not promise peace, solutions, or outcomes. Instead, it offers biblical clarity on how faithful decision-making begins with truth: stewarding today, facing real limits, and taking small, obedient steps without trying to control tomorrow.

Rooted in Scripture and lived caregiving experience, this conversation reframes planning, wisdom, and responsibility through a distinctly Christian lens.

Episode Highlights 0:00–1:15 - The Calendar Moment Every Dementia Caregiver Knows

• Sitting at the kitchen table with a blank calendar and a noisy mind

• Medication changes, doctor conversations, and the pressure of “what’s next”

• Why traditional year-ahead planning breaks down in dementia caregiving

1:15–2:06 - The Weight of End-of-Year Decisions

• Care choices, finances, housing, and health all colliding at once

• How planning quietly turns into pressure—or denial

• Why this season feels heavier than others

2:06–3:03 - A Different Goal: Noticing What Is Real Today

• Shifting from controlling outcomes to stewarding responsibility

• Recognizing limits, needs, and the next faithful step

• Why Christian caregiving requires truth, not optimism

3:56–5:59 - What Psalm 90 Teaches Us About Wisdom

• “Teach us to number our days” vs. trying to control the year

• Why Scripture never calls caregivers to manage outcomes

• Daily dependence as biblical wisdom

6:40–9:56 - Stewarding Today, Not Controlling Tomorrow

• The difference between planning and outcome control

• Why dementia exposes the limits of even good intentions

• Releasing responsibility for what only God governs

9:56–14:18 - Wisdom Begins With Facing Reality

• Why denial often masquerades as faithfulness

• Two caregiver scenarios: maintaining “normal” vs. telling the truth

• How obedience starts with honesty before God

14:18–17:07 - Small Faithful Steps Over Big Resolutions

• Why New Year’s resolutions often harm caregivers

• The danger of unsustainable promises

• Faithfulness in modest, repeatable obedience

17:07–20:31 - Identity and Personhood Are Secure

• Dementia does not erase dignity or personhood

• Why identity is grounded in the image of God, not cognition

• God’s unchanging faithfulness amid decline

20:31–21:59 - A Clarifying Question for the Year Ahead

• What are you trying to control that belongs to the Lord?

• What has God actually entrusted to you today?

This moment is meant for discernment—not emotional processing or decision-making pressure.

Key Takeaways

• Dementia makes future-focused planning unreliable—and that is not a spiritual failure.

• God calls caregivers to steward today, not secure outcomes.

• Wisdom begins with truth about limits, resources, and reality.

• Faithfulness is measured in obedience, not productivity or results.

• Personhood and dignity remain intact because they are rooted in God, not cognition.

If this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with another Christian caregiver who is carrying heavy decisions right now.

Subscribe to Dementia Caregivers Support for Christians so you don’t miss future episodes grounded in biblical truth and caregiving clarity. A review also helps other caregivers find faithful support when they need it most.

And if you’re ready for a simple, structured, biblical place to think through this season with clarity, you’re invited to explore the DigniCare Society — Foundations.

https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/join

💬 What Do I Say When Dementia Makes Words Hard?
Get “What Do I Say? How to Connect with Your Loved One with Dementia” — a free guide for Christian caregivers navigating confusion, repetition, and emotional moments.
📥 Download the guide now: https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/script

🤝 You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
Join other Christian caregivers who are walking this road too — and learning how to care with compassion, clarity, and faith.
👥 Join the free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dementiacaregiversupportforchristians

🧭 Still Feeling Stuck?
If you’re wondering what’s underneath your stress, the Caregiver Stress Assessment can help clarify what’s really weighing you down — so you can take your next step with peace.
📊 Take the free assessment: https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/dca

❤️ Enjoy This Podcast?
Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify — it helps other Christian caregivers find encouragement and real help.
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Read the blog:

https://www.thinkdifferentdementia.com/christian-caregivers-release-fear-year-ahead-dementia/