Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:4

 

I need to know that you care. That’s what Maryam told her husband from the depths of her depression.

One year after having a much-wanted baby, Maryam is facing a mental health crisis. Despite a successful career and being happily married to her husband Rakesh, Maryam became depressed after giving birth to their daughter. Maryam had always been an optimist, fiercely independent, and highly capable. She couldn’t explain why she now felt like a failure. Each day she struggled with illogical sadness, she felt more isolated. It hasn’t helped that Rakesh has articulated that this is something she needs to fix on her own. He missed the independent, witty person his wife used to be and thinks she should get it together. Unsurprisingly, this only makes Maryam feel more miserable and alone.

So much of love can be summarized by a single word: caring. Love looks like caring because this is how God shows His love to us. He cares about our struggles and joys. In the same way, when we love someone, we care about their feelings. We embody that love expressing care, even if it isn’t convenient. In marriage we commit to caring for someone through better and worse. We usually only see the extent of that commitment in the seasons that bring trouble, health issues, and financial woes.

Maryam tearfully told her husband, “I don’t need you to fix problems. I just need you to care that I’m hurting.”

The Bible book of Philippians says, “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too” (Philippians 2:4). Are you showing this care and interest in the lives of those you claim to love most? Another verse says it well: “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them” (Romans 12:9a).