Self-Care for the Saints: Seven Years Later

In March of 2019, I wrote a blog, “Self-Care For The Saints”.  I was only a few months removed from having a stroke. At the time, I thought I was simply learning how to rest.

Looking back now, I realize God was teaching me something much deeper.

Since then, life has continued to unfold in ways I never could have imagined. I’ve experienced healing, unexpected illness, grief that changed me, the loss of my father, new beginnings, closed doors, answered prayers, and prayers that required me to wait much longer than I wanted. Through every season, one lesson has remained the same:

Rest is not the absence of faith.

Sometimes rest is faith.

Somewhere along the journey, “Self-Care for the Saints” quietly grew into what is now Resting While You Wait. What began as permission to slow down became a framework for living. I discovered that waiting doesn’t have to be wasted when it becomes an invitation to draw closer to God.

Today, my self-care looks different than it did in 2019.

Some days it’s spending time in prayer before I ever touch my phone.

Some days it’s sitting quietly with my journal and writing down three things I’m grateful for.

Some days it’s taking a walk, drinking more water, making a nourishing meal, or saying “no” without apologizing.

Some days it’s lighting a candle, turning on the diffuser, wrapping myself in a blanket, and simply enjoying the gift of stillness.

And yes…sometimes it’s still a manicure and pedicure.

I’ve learned that caring for the temple God has entrusted to me isn’t vanity. It’s stewardship.

Jesus often withdrew to quiet places to pray. If our Savior made room for solitude, why do we sometimes feel guilty for doing the same?

I’ve also learned that resilience isn’t about pretending you’re strong every day. Resilience is choosing to trust God on the days when you feel anything but strong. It’s getting up one more time. It’s believing Romans 8:28 when you can’t yet see how all things are working together. It’s allowing God to restore your soul before asking Him to restore your schedule.

One of the greatest gifts I’ve given myself over these past several years has been permission.

Permission to heal.

Permission to grieve.

Permission to pause.

Permission to celebrate small victories.

Permission to become someone new.

I no longer measure my life by how busy I am. I measure it by the peace I carry.

The older I get, the more I understand that productivity isn’t the same as purpose, and exhaustion isn’t a badge of honor. God never asked us to prove our worth through constant striving. He simply asked us to remain in Him.

So if you’re reading this today and you’ve been carrying the weight of everyone else’s expectations, consider this your reminder:

Rest.

Reflect.

Respond.

Release.

Those four words have carried me through some of the hardest seasons of my life, and they continue to anchor me today.

To every caregiver, every parent, every ministry leader, every entrepreneur, every teacher, every person quietly carrying more than anyone realizes…

Please don’t wait until your body forces you to stop.

Take care of your spirit.

Take care of your mind.

Take care of your body.

Take care of your heart.

The work will still be there tomorrow.

Your peace deserves to be there too.

The saints still need self-care.

Now more than ever.

Be well.

Grace and peace,

Arlinda Christine

 

Self-Care Saturday

    

     Self-Care Saturday is more than a cute hashtag. It’s a gentle declaration that you are worthy of rest, intention, and renewal before the week asks anything of you. Saturdays hold a unique kind of permission. The rush eases, the clock loosens its grip, and your nervous system finally gets a chance to exhale. Self-care isn’t indulgence; it’s maintenance. It’s how we return to ourselves after pouring into work, family, purpose, and people. When we choose self-care, we are choosing ourselves.

    Self-Care Saturday can look beautifully different for everyone. For some, it’s a slow morning with tea, prayer, journaling, or a gratitude practice that recenters the heart. For others, it’s movement; walking, stretching, dancing, or heading to the gym to release stress stored in the body. 

    Creative care might mean reading, painting, writing, or tending to a passion project that feeds your spirit. 

    Social care could be brunch with a trusted friend, while sensory care might be a long bath, a skincare ritual, or simply sitting in silence. Each activity carries benefits: lowered stress, improved mood, clearer thinking, emotional regulation, and a deeper sense of connection to yourself.

    What makes Self-Care Saturday powerful is intention. When you pause to ask, What do I need today?—you begin practicing self-trust. Over time, these small, consistent choices build resilience, prevent burnout, and remind you that your well-being matters just as much as your productivity. Let Saturday be your weekly reset. Not to become more, but to remember who you already are. 💜

Self-care is not selfish.