Greta is a Faithful Finish Lines member and a mom of 3 from Florida. She enjoys homeschooling her kids and baking and writes to women who want to know God and make Him known.
Learn biblical strategies on how to stop feeling responsible for others, break free from this burden, and find peace.
As women, we often find ourselves feeling responsible for the people in our lives. It’s part of the nurturing aspect of womanhood and the way God designed us.
But can we take these feelings of responsibility too far? How much are we responsible for, and where do we cross a line into territory that was never ours to claim?
It’s a tough balance. We see needs and want to meet them; we see problems and want to fix them; we see certain behaviors and feel like, if we had just done something different, we could have prevented them.
It’s easy to cross the line from what we truly are responsible for and allow ourselves to become overwhelmed and guilt-laden over issues we never had any control over to begin with.
And while it may be hard to find the line between the two, it’s important we locate it and identify what’s in our power and what’s not.
We must dive into God’s Word and see what He has to say about who we are responsible for and how we can establish healthy boundaries in our personal lives. Doing this may be hard, but it can also alleviate a lot of unnecessary guilt and emotional baggage we were never meant to carry.
Knowing what is in our control and what is not can be the key to walking in emotional freedom through Christ.
Understanding the Root of Over-Responsibility
Why do we struggle with feeling overly responsible for the people in our lives?
Maybe it’s your children and the choices they are making. Perhaps it’s the addictive behavior of your spouse. It may be the way your friend reacted to a situation or even a total stranger out in public.
Whatever the case, as women, we overly internalize everything. We examine, we analyze, we overthink, and we often come to the same conclusion: it must be something I said or did.
And that’s where the feelings of overresponsibility take root. Because if something we said or did caused a certain type of behavior or reaction in someone else, then it makes sense that we have the ability to reverse those behaviors and reactions through a change in our own actions.
Or, maybe it wasn’t something we said or did; maybe it was a lack of something. Maybe we didn’t do or say enough; maybe we weren’t attractive enough or present enough.
Maybe we didn’t try as hard as we should have; perhaps we could have done more or been better; the list goes on and on.
Before long, we have spiraled down a path of overresponsibility that is overwhelming and debilitating. And thus begins a vicious cycle we can feel completely powerless to escape.
But God says:
“Let me carry your burdens”
Matthew 11:28
“Renew your mind in Me.”
Romans 12:2
“Your body is my temple.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
It won’t be easy, but bit by bit, we need to change our own thought patterns. We need to clearly see what we are and are not responsible for and allow God’s strength and grace to flow into the spaces in between.
Then we, resting in God’s goodness and sovereignty, can finally relax. We can allow those burdens to roll off our shoulders and fall back into His loving arms.
Does it sound too good to be true? Keep reading and discover how you can be set free from the burden of feeling responsible for others.
5 Ways to Stop Feeling Responsible for Others
1. Setting Healthy Boundaries
Boundaries are good things. Just like guardrails keep us from careening off cliffs and colliding with other drivers on the road, so do emotional boundaries keep relationships healthy in our lives.
It’s ok to establish and enforce boundaries with people in our homes, families, friend groups, workplaces, and beyond. It doesn’t make you a bad person to set up boundaries and enforce them.
Proverbs 4:23 says,
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Proverbs 4:23
You need to protect your heart from sin and from anything that would allow sin to enter into your life. It’s ok to say “no” to someone who is pressuring you to do something you know is wrong or that goes against what the Bible says.
If you feel responsible for continuing to allow someone into your life who is a bad influence or a stumbling block to your own spiritual walk, you need to lay out some boundaries. If they continue to walk in a manner that does not line up with the Bible, enforce those boundaries and hold fast to your convictions.
Not everyone gets a front-row seat in your life. If the people around you cannot respect the godly boundaries that you have established, you may need to rethink their presence in your life.
Continue reading for more information on what healthy boundaries can look like.
2. Recognizing and Changing Unhealthy Thought Patterns
Romans 12:2 tells us:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:2
Just like you need to recognize symptoms of physical illness so you can catch disease before it spreads, so too do we need to identify when our thoughts take unhealthy directions.
We need to be vigilant in taking inventory of our thought processes. What are we allowing our minds to dwell on? What thoughts are we allowing to grow in our minds and hearts? What direction does our self-talk take?
When we notice our thoughts spiraling in negative directions, we need to take those thoughts captive immediately. That means stopping that particular thought in its tracks, refuting it with relevant Scripture, and replacing it with God’s truth.
This is what Paul means by “renewing” our minds. Bit by bit, as we continue to be faithful to this process, refuting negative thoughts and replacing them with God’s written truth, we will see the landscape of our minds change.
Our thoughts are powerful and can very quickly bring us down if we allow them. Our thought spirals can leave us feeling overly responsible for other people and chained to feelings of shame and guilt.
It is so important to continually come into God’s presence through prayer and Bible reading and evaluate our thought patterns in light of His Word. The more we do this, the more we will experience freedom from unhealthy thought patterns.
3. Prioritizing Self-Care and Self-Compassion
It’s okay to take care of yourself. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 says:
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
1 Corinthians 6:19–20
We are temples of the Holy Spirit. He actually resides inside of us. Therefore, we should honor God with our bodies, just as this verse says.
We see that Jesus, as he lived fully human on earth, took time for His physical needs. He took time to eat, to rest, and to get away from the pressing crowds to spend time alone with His Father.
He made time to help others while still making time for His physical well-being. He did not put one above the other or go from one extreme to the next; He simply incorporated balance.
It’s ok to take time to rest; you need it. It’s ok to take time to make wholesome, good food to eat; your body needs it. And it’s absolutely necessary to take time alone with God, refueling emotionally and spiritually.
You need that most of all.
4. Learning to Say No and Communicate Effectively
In Nehemiah 6:3, we read:
“so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”
Nehemiah 6:3
At this point, Nehemiah had been busy building the wall in Jerusalem, and at every turn, someone was trying to derail him. He found out that the same guys who had been giving him a hard time were plotting to do him harm.
So when he was entreated to leave his work and come down from the wall, he told them “no.” “Why,” he asked, “should the work stop on account of you?”
It’s alright to tell people “no.” Nehmiah had to prioritize his time and be wise about what was worthy of his attention and what wasn’t. He also had to exercise good judgment and not fall prey to evil intentions.
In the end, “no” was the best answer he could give. And sometimes that’s the case for us too.
Ephesians 4:15 says:
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
Ephesians 4:15
We can speak the truth in love, even if that truth happens to be the word “no.” We must not allow ourselves to be compromised because we feel like we have to always say “yes.” We must not allow others to take advantage of us because we don’t want to give a negative answer.
This then leads us to Galations 5:1:
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Galations 5:1
We have freedom is Jesus Christ. His blood on the cross has broken the bondage of sin in our lives. As long as your actions and answers are in alignment with God’s Word, you don’t need to allow guilt to accompany your decisions.
That doesn’t mean the people you have to give “no” answers to won’t try and make you feel guilty. They probably will. But stand firm on God’s truth and the freedom you have in it.
5. Seeking Support and Professional Help
In the end, after all the other things, you may still need to seek support and professional help. And there is nothing wrong with that.
Just like we go to the doctor when we’re sick or take our vehicles to a mechanic when they are in need of repair, sometimes the best thing we can do is seek professional counseling to help our current situation.
Proverbs 11:14 tells us:
“For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.”
Proverbs 11:14
The best place to start when seeking someone to talk to and counsel with is your church. Speak with your pastor and see if he offers some kind of counseling or if he can recommend someone who does.
You may even discover someone within the church body who would be good counsel, even if they aren’t a licensed professional. Seek out people who are going through similar situations or who have overcome similar situations.
There is great encouragement in the Christian community. We were not meant to do this alone. Ask God to send you someone who can help and encourage you in a godly way and who will take the time to pray with you.
Effective Communication
Effective communication is essential to lessening the responsibility you feel towards others. You need to make it clear to those around you how you’re feeling and what you’re thinking, and set clear and concise boundaries.
Don’t leave your friends and family to wonder what you’re thinking or guess how you’re feeling. You can be honest, loving, and firm with them while showing them the love of Jesus at the same time.
If it’s too hard for you to formulate your thoughts audibly, write a letter to the person you need to communicate your feelings to. Letter writing helps you organize your thoughts and gives you the option of re-reading and deleting parts before you share.
Pray about the words you will use and how they may be received by the individual. Ask God to give you wisdom on how to communicate and strength to hold firm in your resolve.
Real-Life Success Stories
Noah
Noah was one individual who had to stop feeling responsible for those around him. Living in an extremely wicked time, Noah prophesied for 100 years that God was going to flood the earth.
The entire time he was building this gigantic wooden ark, he was mocked and made fun of. No one believed his words from God would come true.
Eventually, when the time came to board the ark with his family, Noah had to do what God commanded and leave everyone else to their own devices.
It wasn’t for lack of trying on his part, but there was only so much he could do. Noah remained faithful to God’s call on his life and God preserved him and his family.
Moses
Moses is another example of overcoming feelings of responsibility. From the time he came back to Egypt to tell Pharaoh to “Let my people go,” until he died after 40 years of leading the Israelites through the wilderness, Moses’ life was fraught with tough choices.
Time and time again, Moses called down plagues and other disasters to befall hard-headed and stubborn people. Moses would tell them what God said; they disobeyed, and discipline ensued.
Moses felt a lot of responsibility for these rebellious people. He also had a unique devotion to God that is unrivaled in the Old Testament. He made a lot of hard calls and felt the weight of every single one of them.
But he didn’t waver in his devotion and commitment to the Lord God first. Leading the Israelites in God’s Word and statutes.
FAQs About How to Stop Feeling Responsible for Others
How can I stop feeling responsible for my family’s problems while staying true to my faith?
At some point you have to realize that you can’t make choices for each member of your family. You can love them and give them godly counsel, but at the end of the day, they are making their own decisions.
Commit them to prayer and ask God to send the Holy Spirit to convict their hearts and change their lives. He is the only one who can do that. You cannot be someone else’s Holy Spirit.
What are some biblical principles for reducing the burden of responsibility?
Galatians 6:2-5 says:
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.”
At first glance, this verse may seem contradictory. Paul starts off by saying we should carry each other’s burdens, but ends the section by saying each one should carry their own load.
So which one is it?
If you dig in a little more, you’ll see the distinction between the word burdens (baros) and load (phortion.) “Baros” is referring to something extremely heavy and important, while the word “phortion” alludes to something more manageable.
Like the difference between someone dealing with a crisis situation and someone handling the day-to-day activities of life.
Meaning, you need to practice discernment when it comes to knowing how much you should help someone and to what degree you should feel responsible for them.
As with all things, coming to the Lord in prayer for wisdom is how to proceed in these areas of your life will be key in establishing, and maintaining, healthy boundaries.
Is it selfish to prioritize my own needs over others according to the Bible?
It’s not selfish to take care of yourself. Remember, it all comes down to balance, as we see how Jesus modeled that example for us in the Gospels.
We need to take time to rest, to fuel our bodies with healthy food, and to spend time recharging in God’s presence.
Taking time to do these things doesn’t make you selfish. If the demands on your time are so great that they are preventing you from taking time for these basic necessities, then you should reevaluate your responsibilities.
How can faith-based counseling help with feeling responsible for others?
Seeking professional, faith-based counsel, can help guide you in ways you could not see alone. Just as a trail guide can lead you along unfamiliar paths, helping you to reach an unknown destination, so can a professional counselor help guide you through this unfamiliar territory.
They will be able to equip you with skills and strategies to help you navigate feelings of responsibility and show you how to establish healthy boundaries.
They can also give you different perspectives on your situation and help you understand the dynamics at play.
What are the long-term effects of constantly feeling responsible for others from a biblical perspective?
Longterm, the effects of feeling constantly responsible for others can manifest themselves in emotions such as toxic guilt, anxiety, anger, resentment, and feelings of inadequacy.
It will take a toll on your mental health and may force you to stop taking care of yourself or the people in your life you are responsible for. It can suck away your time, energy, and happiness, and pull you away from important people in your life.
Reflecting on Our Responsibilities
While there are many things we are responsible for day to day, we need to make sure we’re not misplacing feelings of responsibility. It’s important to evaluate the feelings we have and ask ourselves:
- is this something or someone I should feel responsible for?
- am I attempting to control something or someone I have no control over?
- am I maintaining healthy boundaries in this relationship?
- do I struggle saying no to this person, or in this situation?
- are my feelings of responsibility causing me to not take proper care of myself?
- have I been struggling with unhealthy thought patterns?
- do I need some professional faith based counseling?
We need to be able to look at the relationships we have with others and answer these questions honestly and in the light of God’s Word. We need to examine our hearts and minds to make sure we aren’t putting more on ourselves than God meant there to be.
Remember, there is a lot we are responsible for.
We are responsible for our own thoughts and actions and for raising our young children in the love and admonition of the Lord. We are responsible for knowing God’s Word and acting accordingly, showing love and compassion to those around us.
God has called us enough; don’t try to add more to your own plate. God says:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
Learn to rest in the Lord and allow Him to take your burdens from you. That includes the burden of taking responsibility for people and situations that are simply out of your control.
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