All My Friends Have Issues By Amanda AndersonSample

Our culture does not affirm the truth of Scripture that we have treasure in our frail bodies, which are jars of clay, as we carry the love of God and message of Christ. On the contrary, culture asserts that our job is to turn our bodies into tanks that never age, that can keep on going no matter what life throws at them. Until after five. When we should binge-watch TV and drink alcohol to escape. American culture values busyness, achievement, earning, and accumulating. . . .

I’ve been conditioned to be averse to self-care in general, and I’m working to reprogram myself.   I’ve discovered I’m not alone in this issue. Personally, almost all of us would say to our friends, “It’s okay to take care of you,” but almost every woman I run around with has a hard time telling that to herself. I conclude that this is a work of the enemy, a real subtle stunt he’s pulled in our culture.

Among women of faith, the Sabbath is probably the least-followed commandment of the ten. . . . The breaking of it is connected to the first commandment, which is “Have no other gods before the one true God.” I am not him. And even he took a break to enjoy himself. What does it say about my faith if I don’t believe I’m worth a sandwich and a nap?

Rest. Be refreshed. The term sabbatical comes from the root word sabbath, and the every-seven-years principle comes from God’s command to the Israelites to let the fields lie fallow in the seventh year. We push against this boundary. We have too much pride to slow down. Or maybe we are afraid we aren’t worthy of care. Either way, we are failing to honor God and the way he made us. Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Which means God won’t get mad at you if you pick grain or throw in a load of laundry on Sunday, but he gives you permission and encouragement to wait until Monday to do it.

Because the battle for rest and self-care is real, and spiritual, get yourself some Sabbatical Sisters: co-warriors against the culture of do-more, be-more. Encourage each other in this special way.