A phrase we hear a lot these days: self-care.

Sometimes it means something very helpful, like rest, boundaries, prayer, therapy, friendship, or taking a walk.

Other times, self-care gets reduced to buying something because “I deserve it and it brings me satisfaction.”

And listen, I am not here to speak against making yourself feel better by purchasing something for yourself.

I am a person of faith.

Spiritual self-care is deeper than treating ourselves to something we really don’t need.

It is about tending to the soul God has entrusted to us.

It is about remembering that we are not machines. We are beloved children of God. We have bodies, hearts, minds, and spirits, and all of them need care.

We need to remember that Jesus went off by himself and rested.

He withdrew to quiet places.

He prayed.

He slept in a boat during a storm, which may be one of the most underrated miracles in the Bible.

Some of us cannot sleep with all the things going through our minds.

Jesus healed, taught, fed, listened, challenged, forgave, and loved.

But he also stepped away.

That matters.

If the Son of God took time to rest and pray, then perhaps we do not need to prove our faithfulness by running ourselves into the ground.

Many of us carry heavy things: grief, caregiving, work stress, family worries, health concerns, financial pressure, loneliness, and the ache of a world that often feels unkind.

Some of us think that nothing will stop us.

Spiritual self-care begins with this gentle truth: you are not mighty and powerful.

You are not being selfish.

Some people feel guilty when they take time for themselves. They worry that rest means laziness.

You are not being selfish when you rest. You are not being selfish when you admit you are tired, ask for help, or step back from something that is draining the life out of you.

Your soul matters.

In fact, caring for your spirit may be one of the most loving things you can do for the people around you.

Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap. Preferably before making any major life decisions or responding to a group text.

Small practices matter and spiritual self-care does not have to be dramatic. You do not have to move to a monastery, learn ancient Greek, or start waking up at 4:30 a.m. to prove you love Jesus.

Small practices can make room for grace.

You might begin the morning with a simple prayer: “Lord, help me receive this day as a gift.” Allow grace to surround you.

Sit in silence. Read some scripture.

Take a walk and notice nature, the birds, the trees, the light, the neighbors, the ordinary holiness of being alive.

Simply sit still long enough to remember that God is near.

Spiritual self-care is not about adding one more impossible task to your day or even your life. It is about creating small openings where God’s love can reach within you.

We do not always think of boundaries as spiritual, but they can be Holy.

A healthy boundary is more like a fence. It helps protect things within.

Jesus moved with compassion, but he also moved with purpose. He knew when to engage and when to withdraw.

Those are a hard lesson for us.

Many of the people I minister to are deeply caring. You show up for family, church, work, neighbors, friends, and sometimes people who only call when they are in crisis.

Compassion is beautiful. But compassion without boundaries can become toxic.

It is okay to say, “Not today.”

It is okay to say, “I need help.”

It’s okay to say, “I’m not okay.”

It is okay to say, “I need to rest.”

You are called to love. You are not called to personally hold the universe together with duct tape, caffeine, and Episcopalian politeness.

At the heart of spiritual self-care is not a technique. It is a relationship.

God does not love you more when you are productive. God does not love you less when you are tired. God is not waiting for you to become more impressive before offering grace.

That may be the hardest spiritual practice of all: receiving God’s grace and love, without trying to earn it.

Take a walk. Say a prayer. Call the friend. Read some Scripture. Rest your body. Drink some water.

Put down the burden that was never yours to carry.

And if you forget — begin again.

The spiritual life is not about never becoming weary. It is about learning where to put your weariness.

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” A verse that reminds us that we hand our worries and weariness to Jesus, he will carry the burdens we have.

Thanks be to God.

Fr. Keith+