Summer of Self-Care: Taking Care of Your Body

“And so, dear brothers and sisters I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.  Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”  Romans 12: 1-2 NLT

Trigger Warning: This post talks about suicide & depression. If reading about someone else’s journey through this is hard for you, feel free to take a pass. However, my hope in sharing from personal struggle is that anyone else struggling might realize they’re not alone, there’s hope for you, and that God can both meet you in your pain and bring you to a place of healing. 

The greatest breakthrough that ever occurred in my personal health was fostered by my greatest breakdown. My journey with health and body, like most of us is constantly evolving. For me, it is so much more than fad diets, or the latest exercise plans- it’s giving myself permission to explore what works for my body and go from there. Romans 12:1-2 has been a guiding force in this process. We offer ourselves to God as a living sacrifice, that includes our physical being. Some of us might be quick to dismiss this, but we cannot deny that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, where God dwells. If he cares enough about it to live in it, than we need to care enough to steward it well. It is an essential part of us that God loves, and is worth taking care of. There’s grace for all of us and there’s a lot of trial and error as well.

Over a decade ago my father passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack. We were working overseas in Peru as missionaries and the news sent me physically, emotionally and spiritually into a tailspin. I was sucked, seemingly overnight, into the worst depression I have ever experienced. It almost caused me to end my own life, forcing me to see I needed to ask for help. My lowest valley became my invitation for change and I started to seek the help I desperately needed. My approach in the past with all things concerning the body has often been holistic. However, after my wake-up call I found that I needed more than just vitamins, and essential oils. I started a long, and to this day unfolding journey of seeking out what I needed to get and feel better. For a little background, my gallbladder was taken out when I was in my early twenties which complicates weight loss significantly. I have chronic thyroid issues, and for those who don’t know the thyroid is the power house of mood, metabolism, and body heat. I also believe in a supernatural God, who still works miracles. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve gone forward for prayer or the amount of hands that have been laid on me in prayer for total healing. I will never stop believing for all things in my body to be made new but until then, I trust and wait for my miracle to come. As I wait, I choose to walk out wisdom. With all of these factors combined, I felt like I was entering the world of health with some challenges. Over the next few years, I changed doctors to functional medicine and it taught me to take a more holistic look at what was needed. After two weeks of being on a different medication, I felt like a fog had lifted off my life. I started to notice I was happier, I was feeling better, and finally came out of a funk. He also started me on a strong vitamin regime that targeted several key issues in my body designed to help get my hormones back on track. After one month, I felt like I woke up. I could not get over the difference. I felt better, I looked better, and steadily hope was building- after years of despair. Additionally, I began to lower my caffeine intake, change up my workout routine, limit sugar, and explore a nutrient dense diet. I’m not saying everyone has to do what I did, but taking care of my body was a part of my slow and steady road to recovery.

Through this process I learned some invaluable takeaways. I deeply want you to prosper in every area of your life, so here are a few things I hope will help:

Do the best you can

I can not emphasize this enough. You are not going to get better in any area of your life that is driven by condemnation, insult, comparison or fear. When I lived in Peru I didn’t have access to all the supplements in the world, delivery of the latest products to my home, or even doctors who specialized in what I needed. I was often hard on myself that I couldn’t do better. But deep down what I really was doing was condemning myself over self-imposed (and false) standards of perfection. Progress is progress, and progress in any area is worth celebrating. So instead of aiming for something unattainable, identify practical steps in the direction of where you want to go, take action and celebrate that.

Be patient with your body and listen to what it needs

For me this all started with my wake up call. The jolt of almost ending my own life- highlighted the feelings of depression, heaviness and suicidal thoughts. I needed counseling, community and to be delivered by God. As a standard in my life, suicidal thoughts are not normal. As hard as it was for me to admit to my husband the next day that I had seriously thought about taking my life- we responded with getting help. Help did not come through impatience or a lack of action. It came through identifying what was wrong, and seeking out support. For me that started with my thyroid, then counseling, and finally incorporating healthy habits into every area of my life.

Honor what your body is asking for

Take a nap. Drink some water. Go for a walk with a friend. These are all things we hear we should/ would/ wish we could do. However, you know your body best, because you are the one living in it! Listen to what its asking for. Are you eating too much? Try portion control and prayer. Are you thirsty? Hydrate as much as you can (no, Dr. Pepper doesn’t count). Are you feeling lonely? Invite a friend over for a good belly laugh. If you are tired- it is OK to rest! Listen to what your body is asking of you and start there, and if you don’t know, make an appointment to start exploring with a doctor, naturopath or nutritionist who will work with you and your health holistically.

Don’t give up hope

This part is critical, because there is a very real need to persevere when it comes to a lasting solution. However, you have to remember that when your health is on the line, it’s essential to make YOU a priority. The learning curve of caring for our health is a challenge to everyone, and it takes time. I got breakthrough when I changed the type of medication I took for my thyroid, but I really noticed a difference when I took my doctors advice and cut out some things from my diet (like processed sugar and gluten) that were known to be detrimental to my condition. You may have to experiment, ask for advice, or simply persevere by doing what you know to do. Whatever it is, do not give up hope that your breakthrough is on the way. Hope is good for every part of you: body, soul and spirit, so don’t leave it out of the equation.

Finally, I want to remind you: your body is the place where you live. It is WORTH the investment of doing what is both needed and necessary to be taken care of. Jesus loves you so much he died to live inside of you. The Father wants a relationship with you that honors him in every area of your life. The Holy Spirit cares enough about your body to dwell inside of it. The sum of it all is your body and health mean something to God, and it should mean something to you. So, do the best you can – and remember you’re worth taking care of!

Much Love,

Joy

P.S. In case you missed last week’s post introducing this self-care series you can catch up on reading it by clicking here