Is Self-Care Biblical?
Written by Pip Shearer, Australia
Today, I’m sharing about self-care–a practice that, in my experience, I have found to be both good and biblical. You may be here because you want to know what self-care could look like for you, or because it’s a concept you are unfamiliar with. Even still, you might be here because it's a concept you disagree with. Whatever the reason, you are welcome here.
Until recently, my understanding of self-care had been lacking. I say “until recently” because I’ve recently graduated with a Master of Counselling, in which every subject we were reminded of the importance of self-care and asked, “But how are you looking after yourself?”
As you can imagine, hearing this question in every subject had me thinking, ‘Not again, I know all this’. But the repetition of it meant that the concept became very much ingrained in me. I began to understand that we can thrive better when we practise self-care, and the biblical principles of rest (which I’ll get to in a moment) indicate that God knows we need looking after.
I learned this firsthand during the 2020 and 2021 Covid lockdowns when I was studying for my degree; because I had so much extra time, I decided to implement some of the things I was learning.
So I started with self-care, which involved discovering what that looked like for me. I realised that I love to paint and draw, even though I’m not naturally gifted in these areas whatsoever. I also found that putting a podcast on and doing one of the puzzles my grandma gave me was relaxing, and I learned that listening to worship music and drinking tea really calms me.
As I began to practise habits like these more regularly, I realised that I was more relaxed and at peace. I had a deep sense of joy. The world around me was turbulent with Covid, yet I was the most peaceful and calm I had ever been. I felt like David must have felt in Psalm 23; despite the “dark valley”, God led me to rest and refreshed my soul.
Research continues to demonstrate the importance of self-care and its positive impacts on mental health. I found this true; the more I looked after myself, the less stress, fear and anxiety I felt. I realised that practising regular, intentional self-care is the best thing I can do if I’m to effectively love those God calls me to love and walk in the things that God leads me in.
Isn’t Self-Care Selfish?
Through my experiences in counselling and ministry, I have found that self-care can be a topic that people are either passionate about, don’t care at all about, or think is a waste of time.
Some people's alarm bells may go off as soon as the topic of self-care is mentioned. It may be because you think that because it has the word ‘self’ in it must be selfish, and therefore not good or from God. Or, you may feel that you don’t have time for self-care and are fine just going on as you are.
Well, let me ask you a question: Have you ever had a day where you are just feeling super flat and don’t know why? Or, have you had a day when you snap at your loved ones even though you know you shouldn’t have? Maybe you have a lot on your plate and you’re in a state of constant stress and anxiety that you can’t escape. I know that I have experienced all of these things, but I now feel equipped to tackle them due to my experience and practise with self-care.
Here’s the thing; looking after ourselves means that we build our capacity to cope with the stresses of life. When we’re feeling well, we are more available to the people around us and less likely to respond impulsively or harshly. In other words, it means we can better live out God's calling to love Him and those around us.
I have found this to be true, and I can see that I have grown more at peace and available to what God has for me since making a conscious effort to take care of my mental health. I know that loving people well and serving God are things that I want to do, and I imagine if you’re here reading this, that may be something you want as well.
So, What Does the Bible Say?
Throughout the Bible, we continue to see an emphasis on God's desire for His people to rest. We see this not only in the commandment for a Sabbath rest, but in the fact that God Himself rested.
In Genesis 2:2, we see that God rested on the seventh day. If God gave Himself time to rest, who are we to think we don’t need rest?
Exodus 20:8-11 shows us God’s desire for us to rest as part of the ten commandments He gave the Israelites: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy…” God then goes on to say that you must not do any work and that it was a day that the Lord had blessed.
It's important to consider the historical context in which the Sabbath command was given by God. During this time, to cease work would primarily mean a halt in farming and productivity.
This concept struck me as I realised that Sabbath was a way of making the Israelites pause and enjoy all that the Lord had given them, as well as being reliant on Him to meet their needs. In addition to this, it was something that the Lord called them to do weekly; a habit that He wanted them to build on.
God wanted them to rest. It was certainly a command, but it was a command that invited God’s people to rest. Today, God still invites us to rest in Him (Matthew 11:28). We all get tired, overwhelmed, stressed and sometimes, burnt-out. This is what rest and practising habits of self-care can help with.
When I accepted Jesus into my life, I was given access to the ultimate rest; eternal rest in heaven. Matthew 11:28 reinforces this when Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” I am reminded that through Him, we have forgiveness of our sins and freedom from the things that can weigh us down in the world.
With Jesus' death on the cross, He made a way for us to be reconciled with God and be in His presence. Knowing this can help me rest, find peace in God, and be reminded that I am not enslaved by any of the heavy things I feel in this world. He calls me to come to Him, so I continue to wonder how I can do more of that.
With this in mind, I found exploring what rest could mean beneficial to growing my understanding of self-care. The more I look into it, the more I learn how rest brings refreshment, newness, and surrender. We can experience these things when we pause and rest in God; whether it’s as we meditate on His word, pray, or simply allow ourselves to sit in His presence.
When I practise self-care, I find this rest; I cease work, recover strength, and feel renewed. It allows me to spend time with God and depend on Him, just as it did the Israelites.
What Are Some Examples of Self-Care?
As a counsellor, I am taught that self-care can look different for everyone. It is all about finding those things that make you feel rested and renewed.
To me, self-care looks like journalling my thoughts and fears and then lifting them to God in prayer. It looks like pausing on a walk to focus on all the glory around me and all God has blessed me with. It looks like having a good belly laugh with my friends and soaking in their company. I know these are things that God has blessed me with and wants me to be present in. In these moments, I pause from the hustle of work and enjoy the goodness of God.
It is important to note that looking after yourself can be expressed in many ways. Only you know what makes you feel rested, restored and at peace.
Here are some examples to help get you started:
Make yourself your favourite cup of tea and pause to be mindful of how good it tastes and how warming it is.
Get creative – use some pencils and draw; it could be random colours and patterns, a memory, or even your favourite food.
Spend time intentionally connecting with your loved ones, being vulnerable about how you’re feeling or what you may be struggling with.
Spend time outside and take a moment to tune into your surroundings. Focus on all the glory you see around you; the gentle sway of leaves in the breeze, the chirp of a nearby bird, and how the ground feels underneath your feet. When you take a moment to focus on your surroundings, you allow yourself to focus on all the good that God has made in creation.
Set aside time to be with God through prayer, worship, journalling or Bible reading.
Do something you find FUN; maybe going on a hike, trying a new restaurant or organising a games night with friends. Make the time to enjoy it as you cease work. Set aside the world's agenda and enjoy all God has blessed you with.
Take five minutes on a nice day to spend simply soaking in the sunshine.
In reading this today, I hope you are encouraged to look after yourself more this week. Allow yourself to pause and be in the presence of God. Do some things that you love so you can cease work and rest.
After all, God needed rest, and so do we!
Pip Shearer is an Aussie counsellor who loves great coffee, chocolate croissants, listening to people’s stories, and seeing people live in the abundance God has for them. If you’d like to hear more of her story, you can listen to our podcast episode with Pip or watch the full video interview.
