“I just need a little me time.” Have you heard this phrase recently? It sounds true and reasonable. As women, wives, and moms, we can all relate to hectic schedules and demands on our time. Seasons of ministry sprinting or long-distance service endeavors can leave us depleted and weak, causing our flesh to respond to the world’s calls for “self-care” with welcome and desire! A few weeks ago, my eldest daughter ended up in the Emergency Room with a concussion. While in the ER, we overheard the desperate rants of a hurting woman in the next room. Her exclamations revealed the struggles in her heart. “It’s time I look out for myself and cut needy, draining people out of my life!” she proclaimed with determination.
This awkward and memorable situation led to a wonderful discussion with my daughter. Do we, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, have the right to some “me time?” What does God’s Word say? What did our precious Savior model for us to follow?
Woman at the Well
My husband is preaching through the gospel of John. As only God can and does, He providentially brought His Word to bear on this issue, reminding me of His example. John 4 gives the account of the woman at the well. Our Lord arrived in Samaria looking for rest and nourishment, “being wearied from His journey” (John 4:6). Having sent the disciples on to find food, Jesus encounters the Samaritan woman. As always, His example to us is profound, perfect, and piercingly instructive. The Savior’s need for rest and food was undeniable, for His public ministry was underway with preaching, teaching, traveling, and healing. What a welcome sight the well must have been; water within reach. Yet, it is here we find Christ denying self, sacrificing rest, and serving a needy woman with the truth. Spiritual service and sacrifice amid physical weariness. What an example!
I believe every busy woman whose calendar is brimming with activity and service can relate to a welcome respite of food and rest, but what about when ministry needs to interrupt that rest? By God’s grace and the Spirit’s strength, we can respond as Christ did, and when we do, He will grant the greatest of joys and delights for indeed, “remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is better to give than to receive,'” (Acts 20:35).
Our Ultimate Satisfaction
God gloriously designed that His children find ultimate satisfaction in pleasing and serving Him, not indulging self. Think of Solomon, when he sinfully chose to indulge every desire of the flesh, satisfaction evaded him, and instead, empty vanity prevailed (Ecc. 2:10-11). Too often, in pride and selfishness, I think, “I deserve a break. I’ve worked hard. It’s time I do what I want to do.” If I’m being honest, the woman’s words in the ER reflect my selfish heart, and is not my sin even greater for I know what the Word says? I know that self-indulgence fails to satisfy! Let’s be honest, the delights of a lazy day of no cooking or cleaning or projects only go so far. Why? Eph. 2:10 declares, “good works have been prepared beforehand for us to walk in.” His Word is true. It is far better to give than to receive!
One of my treasured friends, Rachel, is a pastor’s wife and mother of 5. Her days are smashed with caring for her husband, family, church family, etc…God providentially led a lost woman to their church picnic, where she shared the need for housing for her six children. As Rachel’s church family shared the hope of salvation in Christ with this mom, they sought to meet her physical needs. Eventually, this led to families in the church caring for her six children. Rachel’s family took in a little infant boy. I remember her saying with such clarity and passion, “Whenever we think we cannot possibly do one more thing, the Lord makes it clear we can.” An attitude of self-care and self-protection would disagree.
Fruit of Ministry
What fruit came from Christ’s ministry to the woman at the well when in physical weariness He ministered the truth to a lost woman? John 4:39,41 states, “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified..and many more believed because of His Word.”
Moreover, I think of the apostle Paul who was actively pursuing and pouring out his life for the newly established churches and saints throughout the New Testament. There are countless of moments where he could have thrown in the towel or given up in the name of “self-care”. Thankfully, he doesn’t. Instead He continues to labor, relying completely on Christ’s power to work within him.
“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that powerfully works within me.” Colossians 1:28-29
Ladies, in an age where the world tells us to put ourselves first and prioritize self, may we ever look to Christ and His Word that His truth may serve as a barrier and protection against worldly thinking! May we say with Paul from 2 Corinthians 12:15, “I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls.”
