What Does The Bible Say About Self-Care?

Understanding what the Bible says about self-care can change your perspective on this popular topic.

The topic of “self-care” has become increasingly popular over the last few years. I most often hear about this necessity from other young mothers in a similar life stage as myself. Weary, worn out, overwhelmed moms needing some “me time” sounds innocent enough, but is it possible that we’re looking at this trendy topic through the wrong lens?

What is Self-Care?

Now, I’ll be the first to say that there are varying definitions when it comes to the idea of self-care and the Christian. Some view it as simply taking care of our health (sleep, physical exercise, healthy eating) while getting the rest our minds and bodies legitimately need. Whereas others view it more as deserved “me time” or putting ourselves first in order to better help others. The focus of this post will be more on the latter perspective.

Although it is true that not every issue is explicitly mentioned in the Bible, we can be certain that God has provided us everything that we need to know within the pages of His Word. And we can rest assured that the Bible is always the best place to start when seeking the answers we crave.

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So What Does The Bible Say About Self-Care?

The topic of self-care isn’t explicitly mentioned in the Bible, but there are many verses referencing how we are to care for ourselves and others, as well as where to turn when we’re feeling drained and overwhelmed.

As believers living in a broken world it can be easy to immerse ourselves into the mainstream culture’s way of thinking without even realizing it. I think it’s important to pause for a moment and try to differentiate between the world’s ways and God’s Word because the two very rarely mirror one another.

Is The Idea Of Self-Care Biblical?

I think it’s safe to say that the majority of mommas of young children enjoy a relaxing bubble bath and a good book from time to time! God specifically designed our bodies to need physical and mental rest in order to be refreshed and recharged for the day ahead.

Taking a break after a busy or stress filled week isn’t sinful. In fact having a quiet moment to refocus our hearts and minds upon Him could be exactly what we need!   

Please hear me when I say that there is nothing wrong with a desire to simply take a break every once and while.

Motherhood can be exhausting.

Children can push buttons we didn’t even know we had.

Patience wears thin.

It is healthier to get some much needed rest than to continue in an overwhelmed and worn out state of mind. After all, we know that God Himself rested on the 7^th day of creation, right? He also gave us the 4^th commandment telling us to follow His example.

Is Self-Care Biblical Rest?

Confusion comes into play when we begin seeking that rest inside of ourselves or by attempting to find complete satisfaction in our surroundings, rather than in our Creator.

Any attempt at self-guided improvement, mindfulness, meditation, or indulgence will never bring about a lasting peace. 

We were created with a void that was meant to be filled by one Person alone, and that person isn’t us.

The mainstream self-care movement typically focuses on us needing to take care of us first in order to best help others.

I’d like to ask you to think about this one for a minute… Does this sound like a Biblical perspective on rest? Does God ever call us to place ourselves first in any situation? Or does he call us to serve others with joy and then provide grace and a sweet peace to carry us through the difficult times?

Bible Verses About Self-Care

Below are a few Bible verses that come to mind regarding self-care. My hope is to simply shine some light on this topic while viewing it through the lens of Scripture instead of our overwhelming emotions and fatigued bodies.

What Does The Bible Say About Putting Yourself First?

• For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galations 5:13-14 ESV)
• “Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”. (Matthew 20:28)
• When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet”. (John 13:12-14)
• But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)
• Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3)
• And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)

Friends, we were created to serve one another, not ourselves. The end goal of every believer should be to lovingly put others before ourselves, glorify our Maker, and share the hope of Christ with a world in desperate need of a Savior.

We’ve got to take the focus off of us and fix our gaze firmly on the cross.

Biblical rest must always be rooted in Christ, not within ourselves.

The moment we begin looking to ourselves for answers in life is the moment we begin walking on a steady path away from our Savior, not towards Him.

I’m afraid that a typical understanding of self-care can be directly tied to the “self-help” movement that is so prevalent in our culture. A movement that has removed God entirely in an attempt to solve life’s problems on our own. Temporary earthly pleasures will never truly satisfy and will always leave us thirsting for more.

Related Post: HOPE FOR THE EXHAUSTED MOM

Bible Verses About Rest

Yes, God delights to give us rest…

• ^“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
• And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” (Mark 6:31)
• It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. (Psalm 127:2)
• And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest”. (Exodus 33:14)
• Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)
• Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
• So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. (Hebrews 4:9-10)
• Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest. (Exodus 34:21)

All of the verses above make it exceedingly clear that we were created to work hard, and then to enjoy sweet rest. And what a blessing it is!

But I believe that “rest” and “self care” are two different ideas that were never meant to intertwine.

Self-care, not surprisingly, finds its roots in “self”. And when we get our minds fixed upon ourselves, we begin to view whatever stands in the way of our desires as burdens.

If we aren’t disciplined to keep our focus on our Savior throughout the day, as the trials arise we will inevitably begin to view those around us (including our spouse or children) as burdens instead of blessings.

The moment we decide to marry and start a family, life ceases to be about us.

We sign up for those added responsibilities. Being a wife and mother is the absolute most joy filled experience of my life, and yet it can still be difficult at times. These trials, however, should never prevent us from doing our work with joy.

Feeling entitled to pampering ourselves or even demanding some “me time” is no-where to be found in Scripture and actually completely contrary to what God has called us to as believers.

We were created to serve.

And I’m pretty sure that our loving Heavenly Father knew what He was doing when He created the human heart. Serving others can’t help but bring about joy. A joy that shifts our focus off of ourselves and our desires and onto helping those in genuine need.

Self-Care is a Matter of the Heart

I believe the self-care movement, at it’s core, is ultimately a heart issue. Yes, we most definitely have a God given need for rest. However, the way we go about that rest reveals who is on the throne of our hearts- our Savior? Or Ourselves?

The simple fact is that we are living in a broken and sin drenched world. We were never promised that life would be easy. Jesus actually promised us the exact opposite:

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”. (Matthew 16:24)

The pressures of life squeeze out of our hearts what is already there. May our love for our Savior and others always outweigh our love of self.

Let’s thank God for the sweet rest and peace He provides. Deny ourselves. Take up our cross. And follow Jesus.