After I mentioned that I had noticed a recent increase of my anxiety and stress, my therapist asked gently, “So how is your self-care going?” 

I stopped and stared back at her wordlessly in the Zoom call. Self-care? Wasn’t she listening when I told her that I didn’t have time to do all of the tasks that I needed to do? I certainly didn’t have time for any self-care. Besides, no amount of detailed, “stress-relieving” coloring books or chamomile tea was going to help the pounding heartbeat in my throat calm down. 

With annoyance, I told my therapist this and she smiled at me. “Oh, I don’t mean that you’re supposed to be journaling your feelings extensively or painting landscapes to feel peaceful. I meant, ‘how do you help yourself “feel whole?”’ How are you taking care of your body, your heart, and your mind? Are you getting enough sleep? Are you eating vegetables and fruit? Are you spending time with friends that lift you up?” 

This was a very different question. As I slowly began to think through the habits I had established to “feel whole,” I realized that I did care for my heart, body, and mind, even if there were no coloring books involved. There are Christians in my world that argue against self-care because it is seen to be selfish and superficial. At the same time, they tell me that they prioritize going to bed at 9 PM, have a salad with every meal, and attend church every time the doors are open – all forms of personal self-care.

Because our Creator delights in us and cares deeply for our well-being, Biblical mandates for self-care are woven throughout Scripture without ever using the words “self-care.” This started with the creation of Eve. It wasn’t good for Adam to be without community – he wasn’t whole and healthy without it. So God created Eve. God designed Adam and Eve to need community; therefore, spending time together was a form of self-care for them. 

Other forms of self-care are mandated and suggested throughout Scripture, including resting on the Sabbath day (Genesis 2:2-3), enjoying nature (Psalm 8:3-4), fellowshipping with the Lord (Mark 1:35), caring for our bodies (Ephesians 5:29), spending time with the body of Christ (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12), and thinking about pure and good things (Philippians 4:8). 

Certain aspects of self-care may look very different for each person, but I believe that the ultimate goal of self-care is two-fold. The first goal is to care for our hearts, minds, and bodies because they are intentionally designed by our Creator who loves us. The second goal is to care for ourselves so that we have the capacity to care for others and share the Gospel. If we try to do all the things and refuse to admit our mental, physical, and emotional limitations, we are neither honoring the Lord with our bodies or setting ourselves up for sustainable ministry. 

So even in seasons of life that feel like whirlwinds, let’s think through some of the things that help us feel whole and refreshed. Let’s pray about ways that we should better honor the Lord with our hearts, minds, and bodies.