When we think of self-care, our minds often jump to bubble baths, spa days, or getting enough sleep. While those are valid and important practices, true self-care starts deeper: in the soul. And there is no better place to begin than with Psalm 139.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” — Psalm 139:14 (NIV)
Psalm 139 is a tender love letter from God to us. It reminds us that He created us with purpose, care, and divine detail. In a world that often tells us to hustle, achieve, and perform, this psalm calls us back to rest in the knowledge that we are already known, seen, and loved by our Creator.
God Knows You Fully
“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.” — Psalm 139:1
One of the most comforting truths of Psalm 139 is that God knows us intimately. He knows our thoughts before we think them, our words before we speak them, and our hearts even when we don’t fully understand them ourselves. (Psalm 139:2-4)
In the context of self-care, this means we can stop pretending.
We don’t need to perform spiritual perfection or push through burnout. God already sees our exhaustion, our joy, our fears, and our longings. He welcomes all of it.
This gives us permission to rest. To be honest. To ask for what we need.
Asking God for Help in Self-Care
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” — Psalm 139:23
Self-care is not self-centered. When we invite God into the process, it becomes soul stewardship.
Here’s how you might begin:
- Pray honestly: “Lord, I’m overwhelmed. Show me how to care for the life You’ve entrusted to me.”
- Listen gently: What does your body need? Your spirit? Your mind?
- Set boundaries with grace: Even Jesus retreated to quiet places to pray (Luke 5:16). You are allowed to rest.
- Seek support: God often answers prayer through others—a friend, a counselor, a worship song at just the right moment.
Dr. Anita Phillips, a faith-based trauma therapist, writes:
“Prayer is a weapon, and therapy is a strategy.”[1]
Asking for help—whether from God or others—is not weakness. It is wise self-leadership.
You Are Not Alone in Your Need
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” — Psalm 139:7
Self-care can feel selfish or even impossible for some of us. Maybe you’re a caregiver. A mother. A leader. Someone who always says yes.
Psalm 139 offers a deep encouragement: God is with you wherever you go. On the good days and the hard ones. In the carpool line and the emergency room. When you feel strong, and when you fall apart.
His presence is not conditional on your productivity.
You don’t have to earn His attention. He’s already paying attention.
This is why self-care is sacred. It’s how we honor the life He created. Not perfectly, but faithfully.
A New Self-Care Prayer
You might write or whisper something like this:
Lord, You know me fully and love me completely. Teach me to care for myself the way You would care for me. Give me the courage to rest, the humility to ask for help, and the wisdom to know what nourishes me. Thank You for never leaving me alone in my need. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Amen.
5 Gentle Ways to Practice God-Honoring Self-Care
- Take a Scripture walk: Read Psalm 139 aloud on a short nature walk. Let the words settle in.
- Make a quiet playlist: Surround yourself with worship and peace. Songs that remind you of God’s closeness.
- Say no without guilt: Every “no” to overwhelm is a “yes” to stewardship.
- Hydrate and nourish: Your body is a temple. Treat it with care.
- Journal with God: Ask, What do I need today? Write the answer as if God were answering you.
Final Thoughts: He Sees, He Knows, He Cares
Psalm 139 isn’t just beautiful poetry. It’s a divine reminder that you matter, your needs matter, and that caring for yourself is not self-indulgence. It is spiritual obedience.
“Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” — Psalm 139:12
There is no shadowy place in you that God cannot reach. No exhaustion too deep for His compassion. No fear too small for His concern.
You are seen. You are loved. And you are allowed to care for yourself.
Let your self-care be a reflection of God’s love—tender, true, and transformative.
Footnotes:
[1] Phillips, Anita. (2021). The Garden Within: Where the War with Your Emotions Ends and Your Most Powerful Life Begins.
Bibliography:
- Holy Bible, New International Version. Psalm 139
- Phillips, Anita. (2021). The Garden Within. Zondervan.
- Warren, Tish Harrison. (2019). Liturgy of the Ordinary. IVP.
- Ortberg, John. (2002). The Life You’ve Always Wanted. Zondervan.
#Psalm139 #ChristianSelfCare #FaithAndWellness #GodSeesYou #SoulCare #SpiritLoveSong #WomenOfFaith #RestIsHoly #FearfullyAndWonderfullyMade #GodIsNear #ScriptureMeditation #BiblicalSelfCare #YouAreNotAlone
Nice share!