Is self-care for Christians?
Do you ever wonder if self-care is Christian? After all, Jesus did say “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Lk 9:23).
Acceptance of our crosses is truly a part of the Christian life (and overlaps with many psychologically healthy principles, including “radical acceptance”). This is exactly why caring for our needs is so crucial - we need to be equipped to carry the cross, strengthened by God for this hard work that we can’t do out of our own strength (because we have human limits).
I like to explore this concept through the simple metaphor of a car - we need our car to function and work hard, so we “care” for it by giving it fuel, repairing it when it breaks down, and not pushing it beyond its limits (e.g. I don’t drive my Chevy Volt on the Lake Michigan sand dunes).
Here are some more poetic metaphors, all taken from Scripture as descriptions of you:
A temple (1 Corinthians 6:9-20)
A clay jar (2 Corinthians 4:7)
A branch (John 15:5)
One thing these objects all have in common is the need for care and upkeep. A temple needs to be cleaned, replenished, and maintained over time. A clay jar needs to be protected, and any cracks need to be repaired. A branch needs sun, water, and effective support. Without these acts of care and upkeep, these objects would not maintain their usefulness or beauty.
We do not accuse any of these objects of selfishness or neediness when they need care and upkeep. We see their need as part of the nature of things, knowing they need ongoing attention and care in order to do the thing they were meant to do. We expect them to have limits, and we respect those limits in order to keep them functioning as intended.
So it is with you. You need care and upkeep. God provides care for you each and every day (such as that breath you just took). He also provides us with the tools to care well for ourselves and to honor our natural limits. Without self-care and good boundaries, you cannot live into the unique fullness of who God made you to be.
Today is an opportunity to learn about how to care well for yourself and how to cultivate a healthy relationship with your limits. This will help to keep you as strong as possible in all of these areas:
physically - preventing illness and injury
mentally - staying focused on the tasks before you
emotionally - authentically living into both lament and joy
relationally - giving your relationships the time and attention they need to flourish
spiritually - connecting with God throughout each day
Practicing good self-care helps you live into all that God has made you to be.
Here are some questions to ponder:
What messages have you received in your life about self-care, and what messages do you give yourself in this area?
Perhaps you consider self-care to be a necessary part of survival and flourishing, or maybe you think it is a selfish act that you have no time for.
Take an inventory of your most-used excuses for avoiding self-care.
What nourishes you in your body, mind, heart, and spiritual journey? Be specific.
What structures do you need to set up to keep you in the habit of regular self-care? Consider personal resources (like phone reminders), social resources (like accountability partners), and professional resources (like therapy).
“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” - Louisa May Alcott
Dr. Irene Kraegel provides therapy and mindfulness coaching through her practice at Dwell Psychological Services. Services are available in-person in Grand Rapids, MI, or via teleconference through the 43 PsyPact states. Click below to get started!
