Caregivers of veterans discover that serving someone who served their country requires navigating invisible wounds no parade celebrates and trauma that doesn’t disappear just because deployment ended years ago.
David’s men returned from battle exhausted, traumatized, and sometimes unable to reintegrate into normal life after experiencing combat that changed them permanently.
Scripture acknowledges warriors’ struggles without romanticizing war or pretending soldiers return unchanged by what they witnessed and survived.
Most veteran caregivers entered this role unexpectedly when spouse, parent, or sibling came home physically intact but emotionally shattered by experiences they can’t fully explain to people who’ve never faced combat.
You’re providing care for wounds society doesn’t see, acknowledge, or understand beyond superficial “thank you for your service” statements that don’t translate into actual gesture of supporting veterans that are struggling with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or disabilities that don’t show on body but devastate daily functioning.
This caregiving is exhausting work nobody prepared you for.
You’re managing medical appointments, advocating through VA bureaucracy, handling crisis episodes, and absorbing secondhand trauma from stories you wish you’d never heard but can’t forget now that you know.
Your veteran needs you. You need support too.
This calling is sacred and brutally hard.
Caregiving Costs You in Ways Nobody Acknowledges
Veteran caregiving is invisible labor performed by people society thanks once then forgets while expecting you to manage complex medical, psychological, and administrative needs without compensation or recognition for work consuming your entire life.
You’re navigating VA system designed to delay, deny, and exhaust people seeking benefits veterans earned through service.
That bureaucratic nightmare falls on you when veteran you’re caring for can’t manage paperwork, appointments, or advocacy required to access treatment they desperately need.
The emotional toll compounds daily.
You’re living with someone whose trauma affects entire household through nightmares, hypervigilance, anger outbursts, or complete emotional withdrawal that isolates everyone even when physically present together.
Most civilian friends don’t understand why you can’t just go out spontaneously or why holidays are triggering events requiring careful management instead of celebrations.
That social isolation adds to burden you’re already carrying alone.
Your veteran’s struggles become your struggles.
Their pain becomes your pain.
Their appointments become your schedule.
Their disabilities become your limitations when life requires accommodating needs that restrict what entire family can do.
Nobody teaches you how to be veteran caregiver.
You learn through trial and error while making mistakes with consequences affecting someone you love who’s already suffered enough without you inadvertently making things worse through ignorance about how trauma works.
Financial strain is real when caregiving prevents you from working full-time while veteran’s disability payments don’t cover household expenses plus ongoing medical costs that insurance doesn’t fully pay despite promises suggesting otherwise.
Bible Verses For Caregivers of Veterans
1. Isaiah 40:31 – Those Who Wait on the Lord
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
New International Version (NIV)
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They’ll run and not grow weary.
2. Psalm 147:3 – He Heals the Brokenhearted
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
3. Matthew 11:28 – Come to Me
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Jesus invites you to bring your burdens to Him. He gives rest.
4. Galatians 6:2 – Carry Each Other’s Burdens
Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Carry each other’s burdens. This fulfills Christ’s law.
5. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 – The God of All Comfort
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction.
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
God comforts you so you can comfort your veteran with the comfort you’ve received.
6. Isaiah 41:10 – Do Not Fear
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Don’t be afraid. God will strengthen, help, and uphold you.
7. Psalm 46:1 – God Is Our Refuge
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
King James Version (KJV)
God is your refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
8. Philippians 4:13 – I Can Do All Things
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
9. Psalm 34:18 – The Lord Is Close
If your heart is broken, you’ll find GOD right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.
The Message (MSG)
God is close to the brokenhearted. He saves those crushed in spirit.
10. 1 Peter 5:7 – Cast All Your Anxiety
casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].
Amplified Bible (AMP)
Cast all your anxiety on God because He cares for you.
11. Psalm 55:22 – Cast Your Burden
Throw your burdens on the LORD and he will sustain you. He will never allow the godly to be upended.
New English Translation (NET)
Cast your burden on God. He will sustain you and never let you fall.
12. Romans 8:28 – All Things Work Together
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
God works everything together for good for those who love Him.
13. Psalm 121:1-2 – I Lift Up My Eyes
I look up to the hills, but where will I find help? My help will come from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Your help comes from God who made heaven and earth.
14. 2 Corinthians 12:9 – My Grace Is Sufficient
But he said to me, “My grace is all you need. For my power is greatest when you are weak.”
Good News Translation (GNT)
God’s grace is sufficient. His power is perfected in weakness.
15. Isaiah 43:2 – When You Pass Through Waters
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you cross rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, and the flames will not hurt you.
New Century Version (NCV)
When you go through deep waters, God is with you. You won’t be overwhelmed.
16. Psalm 73:26 – God Is the Strength
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.
International Standard Version (ISV)
Your flesh and heart may fail, but God is your strength forever.
17. Lamentations 3:22-23 – His Mercies Never Cease
ADONAI’s mercies never end; His compassions never fail. They are new every morning! Great is Your faithfulness.
Tree of Life Version (TLV)
God’s mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness.
18. Psalm 91:4 – He Will Cover You
With his feathers he will cover you, and under his wings you will take refuge.
Lexham English Bible (LEB)
God will cover you with His feathers. Under His wings you’ll find refuge.
19. Hebrews 13:5 – I Will Never Leave You
Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.”
World English Bible (WEB)
God will never leave or forsake you under any circumstances.
20. Psalm 27:14 – Wait for the Lord
Wait for Jehovah: Be strong, and let thy heart take courage; Yea, wait thou for Jehovah.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Wait for the Lord. Be strong and take heart. Wait for the Lord.
21. Nahum 1:7 – The Lord Is Good
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
God is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust Him.
22. Psalm 62:8 – Pour Out Your Heart
Trust him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before him. God is our refuge.
New American Bible (NAB)
Trust God at all times. Pour out your heart to Him, for He is your refuge.
23. James 1:5 – If Any Lacks Wisdom
And if any of you be nedy of wisdom, axe he of God, which yyueth to alle men largeli, and vpbreidith not; and it schal be youun to hym.
Douay-Rheims Bible (DRB)
If you need wisdom, ask God. He gives generously without finding fault.
24. Psalm 18:2 – The Lord Is My Rock
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strong rock, in him will I trust.
English Revised Version (ERV)
The Lord is your rock, fortress, and deliverer. Your God in whom you take refuge.
25. Isaiah 40:29 – He Gives Strength to the Weary
He is giving power to the weary, And to those not strong He increaseth might.
Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
He gives strength to the weary and increases power of the weak.
26. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 – The Lord of Peace
But the Lord of peace himself give you peace continually in every way. The Lord be with you all.
Darby Translation (DARBY)
May the Lord of peace give you peace at all times and in every way.
27. Psalm 9:9 – A Refuge for the Oppressed
And the Lord schal be maad refuyt to a pore man; an helpere in couenable tymes in tribulacioun.
Wycliffe Bible (WYC)
God is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
28. Philippians 4:6-7 – Do Not Be Anxious
Be nothing carefull: but in all thinges let your petitions be shewed vnto God in prayer, and supplication with giuing of thankes.
Geneva Bible (GNV)
Don’t be anxious about anything. Pray about everything with thanksgiving.
29. Psalm 28:7 – The Lord Is My Strength
The Lorde is my strength and my shielde, my heart hath trusted in him and I am helped: therfore my heart daunced for ioy, and in my songe wyll I prayse him.
Bishop’s Bible
The Lord is your strength and shield. Your heart trusts in Him and He helps you.
30. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 – Though Outwardly Wasting Away
For which causes we are not weery: but though oure outwarde man perisshe, yet the inwarde man is renued daye by daye.
Tyndale Bible
Though outwardly wasting away, inwardly you’re being renewed day by day.
31. Psalm 23:4 – Even Though I Walk
Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way.
The Living Bible (TLB)
Even through the darkest valley, fear no evil. God is with you.
32. Isaiah 40:11 – He Tends His Flock
Like a shepherd, he will care for his flock, gathering the lambs in his arms, hugging them as he carries them, leading the nursing ewes to good pasture.
The Passion Translation (TPT)
God tends His flock like a shepherd. He gathers lambs in His arms.
33. Psalm 37:39 – The Salvation of the Righteous
The salvation of the righteous is from the Eternal; He is their strength and protection in turbulent times.
The Voice Bible (VOICE)
Salvation of the righteous comes from God. He’s their stronghold in time of trouble.
34. Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord
Trust the LORD with all your heart. Don’t depend on your own understanding.
New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)
Trust God completely. Acknowledge Him in everything. He’ll direct your paths.
35. Psalm 34:17 – The Righteous Cry Out
Righteous people cry out. The LORD hears them. He saves them from all of their troubles.
God’s Word Translation (GWT)
The righteous cry out. God hears and delivers them from all their troubles.
Our Thoughts On What the Bible Says About Caregivers of Veterans
Scripture acknowledges that warriors return from battle changed by experiences civilians can’t fully understand.
David’s mighty men fought intensely and lived with consequences of violence they witnessed and participated in during combat that shaped them permanently.
Caregiving for veterans requires recognizing their service cost them in ways society celebrates superficially through parades while failing to provide adequate support for invisible wounds that don’t heal just because deployment ended years ago.
Your work as veteran caregiver matters profoundly even when nobody acknowledges the sacrifices you’re making daily managing complex needs while navigating systems designed to deny benefits rather than deliver them efficiently to people who earned support through military service.
Churches should be leading support for veteran caregivers through respite care, practical assistance, advocacy with VA system, and recognition that this calling is ministry deserving same honor given to missionaries despite being performed in homes instead of foreign countries.
God sees every appointment you attend, every form you complete, every crisis you manage, every night you lose sleep worrying about veteran you love who’s suffering from wounds invisible to people who’ve never experienced combat trauma or lived with someone who has.
Your faithfulness matters eternally.
Say This Prayer
Father, I’m exhausted from caregiving for veteran whose wounds nobody sees or understands beyond superficial thank-yous that don’t translate into actual support when we desperately need help.
Give me strength for another day managing medical appointments, VA bureaucracy, crisis episodes, and secondhand trauma from stories I can’t forget now that I know them.
I declare this work matters even when nobody acknowledges it.
You see every sacrifice I’m making caring for someone who served their country and came home changed by experiences they can’t fully explain.
Sustain me emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Surround us with people who help practically, not just thank us superficially.
Provide resources we need navigating systems designed to exhaust rather than support us.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Evang. Anabelle Thompson is the founder of Believers Refuge, a Scripture-based resource that helps Christians to find biblical guidance for life’s challenges.
With over 15 years of ministry experience and a decade of dedicated Bible study, she creates content that connects believers with relevant Scripture for their daily struggles.
Her work has reached over 76,000 monthly readers (which is projected to reach 100,000 readers by the end of 2025) seeking practical faith applications, biblical encouragement, and spiritual guidance rooted in God’s Word.
She writes from personal experience, having walked through seasons of waiting, breakthrough, and spiritual growth that inform her teaching.
Evang. Thompson brings 12 years of active ministry and evangelism experience, along with over 10 years of systematic Bible study and theological research.
As a former small group leader and Sunday school teacher, she has published over 200 biblical resources and devotional studies.
She specializes in applying Scripture to everyday life challenges and regularly studies the original Hebrew and Greek texts for a deeper biblical understanding.