Embracing the Sacredness of Self-Care
“Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11: 28 NRSVUE
The world feels heavier by the day. The constant news cycle, financial pressures, and the endless demands of life—both the things we want to do and those we don’t—can leave us feeling overwhelmed and depleted. Many of us are caring for family, friends, colleagues, and even strangers, often at the expense of ourselves.
Amid all this weight, it’s easy to lose sight of our needs. But let me ask you: How are you caring for yourself in these monstrous times?
Over the next four weeks, we are going to address the topic of self-care from the lens of scripture, guided by the wisdom of author, theologian, and psychologist Chanequa Walker-Barnes. Together, we’ll discover why self-care is not a selfish act but a sacred one, as told in her book Sacred Self-Care.
As LGBTQ+ Christians, many of us have been told—explicitly or implicitly—that we are unworthy of love, care, or belonging. These harmful messages can make it difficult to see ourselves as beloved children of God—as sacred beings.
Chanequa Walker-Barnes offers us this reflection:
“When we recognize our self as a sacred gift of God who is meant to be in relationship with other beings who are also wonderfully and beautifully made in the image of God, self-care becomes a fulfillment of the second part of the Great Commandment: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Self-care is self-love.”
Scripture reminds us that we are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and that God’s desire for us is abundant life (John 10:10). Self-care, then, becomes an act of resistance. Allowing us to begin to see self-care not as a luxury or indulgence, but as a sacred act. Using self-care becomes a way to honor the divine image within us. It is a way of rejecting the lies of unworthiness and embracing the truth of our belovedness.
As we begin this journey together, we encourage you to spend some time in reflection. Each evening this week, take a few moments to sit quietly and journal about your day, using these questions as a guide:
How did I care for myself today?
What barriers prevented me from practicing self-care?
How did I experience God’s presence in my moments of rest and renewal?
This practice is not about perfection. It’s about becoming more aware of the ways you are already caring for yourself and identifying small steps you can take to deepen that care. May you come to see self-care not as a task to check off your list but as a sacred practice that draws you closer to the God who loves you.
You are worthy of care. You are worthy of rest. You are worthy of love.
This series was Inspired by a lenten sermon series led by QCF community member Rev. Tonetta Landis-Aina at The Table Church DC and the book Sacred Self-Care: Daily Practices for Nurturing Our Whole Selves by Chanequa Walker-Barnes.
Sacred Self-Care was written as a 7-week Lenten devotional, but many of the principles can be explored year-round as we strive to make sure we are taking the time to care for ourselves. To help us expand the conversation, we have a weekly drop-in group where you can work on these practices in community.
Join us Wednesday nights at 7pm ET for a Sacred Self-Care Drop-In Group throughout the month of May. You can find more information and sign up at the link below!
