"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV)
It was a typical Tuesday. I'd spent the morning reading the Scriptures and couldn't wait to dive into writing my book. I'd carved out eight precious hours of "focus time," yet the words wouldn't flow. As every minute ticked on the clock, I sat in agony. My words were a drought, my fingers shriveled and my mind empty.
By the time the fifth hour had passed, I was still staring at a blank screen. I should've thrown in the towel and worked on another task. It was clear the words weren't meant for this day. Instead, I refused to give myself a break. I refused to switch tasks. I was determined to be productive.
It wasn't until conversing with my counselor that I realized taking care of myself sometimes means taking a break and switching gears. As writers, we're taught to put others above ourselves. We write to serve our audience. We have something they need to hear so we pour ourselves out until we're empty.
Nothing is fun about re-living trauma, but rehashing it to help others becomes our mantra.
Nothing is easy about embracing physical pain with hope, but you press on knowing someone else out there, just like you, needs to hear what you have to say.
But friend, Jesus never asked us to pour from an empty cup. He asked you to care for yourself so that you can care for others, and this applies to those of us who are writers.
It's easy to think that since we aren't physically interacting with our audience, we're not serving them. That's a lie. The words we write, the podcasts we produce, the books we publish, the live events we participate in, and the quiet times with God we cultivate all matter. And yet, I get the feeling maybe a few of you need to hear this:
In case you need permission, or your heart and mind need convincing:
-You're allowed to take care of yourself first.
-You're allowed to change the plans and switch gears.
-You're allowed to take a step back, breathe, and process.
-You're allowed to rest and wait.
-You're allowed to heal before helping others heal.
And guess what? You and your message will still stand the test of time. Your audience will understand. They know what it's like to be human and need a break because they're human, too. They aren't expecting perfection from you. Even if you expect and demand it from yourself.
Friend, I'm not sure what you're wrestling with today, but I want you to be encouraged that taking care of yourself is one of the best ways to sufficiently and most effectively serve your audience. And it isn't selfish. Whether you're a writer, podcaster, teacher, stay-at-home mom, or wife, this is your permission to take care of you. Your body, mind, and soul are created by God and for God. He desires you to take care of your temple.
Consider these questions:
-Do you wrestle with the belief that "Self-care is selfish?" How can you counter this belief with what God's Word says and prioritize your well-being?
-Why is it necessary to take care of ourselves if we want to effectively serve others?
-What is one way you can tend to your needs this week? What is one area of your life that God might be asking you to serve others?
-What do you need to stop and heal from before helping others? Consider a Start, Stop, and Continue exercise. Write down what things you believe God wants you to start doing, stop doing, and continue doing. You'll be surprised what He might reveal in just a couple of minutes.
Action Step: This week, evaluate your self-care meter. Are you burning the candle at both ends? If so, perhaps it's time to re-evaluate, re-prioritize, and re-align your heart with God's mission for you. Yes, God wants us to serve others, but never to the extent that we aren't caring for ourselves.
Dear God,
Taking care of ourselves when we want to serve others can be difficult. When we're tempted to think that self-care is selfish, remind us that you created our bodies and desire us to care for them. We can't pour from an empty cup. Please help us permit ourselves to change the things we need to so that we may better serve those around us. We trust you with this difficult work, knowing you will continue to work in and through us. Thank you for this grace, Jesus. We love and praise you. Amen.
Agape, Amber
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Ridofranz
Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.
Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
Kerry Washington, Andrea Bocelli, Reba McEntire, Mark Wahlberg, Tony Dungy, and Matthew McConaughey—what do all of these people have in common? They are all people of faith who have leaned on God in both the good and challenging times—and they’ve shown up to tell their stories of faith on The Jesus Calling Podcast. The Jesus Calling Podcast provides a place for people from all walks of life to share the heartaches, joys, and divine moments that keep them going.
Inspired by Sarah Young's classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts.
