Written by Kerrie Fullen
There’s a quiet message many of us have learned without ever saying it out loud especially us women: Take care of everyone else first. Be strong, push through, and rest later.
For a long time, I thought that that was faithfulness. Showing up, serving, giving, and putting my own needs at the very bottom of the list. But God has been gently teaching me something different: neglect isn’t sacrifice, and exhaustion isn’t a spiritual gift.
Scripture tells us, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). I used to read that and think about behavior or discipline. Now, I hear something else: Care. Attention. Stewardship. A temple isn’t ignored, rather it’s tended to.
My perspective changed deeply when I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. Nothing dramatic led up to it. It came through doing one of the ordinary, routine things we often postpone. An appointment. The kind of thing we reschedule (and have in the past) because work is busy, family needs us, or we simply don’t want to deal with it.
That experience taught me something important. Caring for our health should not be fear-based, it should be faith-based. God often cares for us through wisdom, doctors, early detection, and through the small decisions we make to pay attention instead of delaying. Avoiding care doesn’t make us “trusting.” It often just makes us unavailable for the people we love.
In Mark 6:31, when the disciples return after being sent out by Jesus and were so busy, not even having time to eat, Jesus said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” Jesus knew how important it was to take care of his disciples. We are called to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind… and strength (see Mark 12:30). Strength requires tending. When we continually run on empty, ignore warning signs, or put off basic care, we limit how fully we can live out what God has placed in front of us.
Stewardship doesn’t have to look dramatic. It can look like:
- scheduling the appointment you’ve been putting off.
- taking a walk and talking to God instead of scrolling.
- drinking water and resting when your body asks for it.
- choosing nourishment instead of just convenience.
- paying attention when something feels different
These aren’t vanity choices, but instead are preparation. They help us stay present for our families, ministries, friends, and the work God has given us to do.
If you’ve been telling yourself you’ll “get to it later,” consider this your gentle nudge: caring for yourself is not selfish. It’s responsible. It’s wise. And sometimes, it’s the very thing that allows God to keep using you in the ways you were created for.
You don’t have to overhaul your life today. Just start with one step of care, one act of stewardship. God meets us not only in miracles, but also in appointments kept, walks taken, water poured, and bodies listened to.
What is one small way you can care for the body God entrusted to you this week?
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