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Hey friends, before I get into this week's teaching, I have an exciting announcement for you, and you can ensure that you do not miss out by joining my email notification list or by joining the "Sherry's Online Retreat for Christian Women" Facebook Private Group.
Starting at the end of May 2025, I’ll be
launching something brand new—online Women’s Connection Cohorts! This will be an opportunity for Christian midlife women - in their 40's to 60's - to meet, connect, learn and potentially build friendships together.For the first time, I’m creating a space where we can gather in small, purposeful groups to
learn, grow, and connect. These online cohorts will meet via Zoom and will include time for encouragement, meaningful conversation, and faith-based personal growth.
If you’re longing to stay close to God, live with more intention, and feel less overwhelmed by stress, this is for you. You’ll walk away feeling refreshed, supported, and re-centered in your purpose, while meeting other Christian women in the same stage of life.
You will be notified by email or you may simply check the website on May 1, 2025, when registration officially opens for the May 28 – June 25 session.
I can’t wait to see what God will do in these groups. Let’s grow together!
[7 seconds intro music...] [Listen to the podcast reading of this blog transcript below...]
Welcome back to Faith & Soul Care! I’m Sherry Elaine, and today we’re talking about something that I've been meaning to discuss for awhile—the difference between self-care and soul care.
Now, believe me - I enjoy a spa treatment or vacation day just as much as anyone. And there’s something truly refreshing about a quiet morning walk on a cool day, or a hot cup of coffee or tea with a book on a cold evening. These things are good, and they are needed, and they have their place when it comes to taking care of ourselves. But we can confuse self-care with soul care. We think if we just take a break, make space for "down time;" get more sleep, or treat ourselves to a little something, we’ll feel renewed and energetic again. But know that’s not always true. Even when it is true, the refreshment doesn't last. Am I the only one that often feels like trying to add "self-care" into an already busy and stressful lists of to-do is just absurd?
That is because stress and anxiety and other negative emotions respond best to soul care, not self care! Especially if you are a Christian! Then we have access to the best soul care provider in the universe that can provide us the peace and calm that passes all understanding!
What is Soul Care?
Jesus recognizes our human need for rest. But notice—this rest was not just about physical recovery. It was an invitation to step away from distractions and be with Him. That leads us right into soul care.
Self-Care Helps, But It’s Not Enough
Now remember - beginning May 1st you may sign up for the Women's Online Connection Cohorts - which will be 5 weeks starting the last week in May. We will go through a course on Soul Care methods together, and I believe that it is going to be an amazing time for our spiritual growth. If you want to make sure you are notified as soon as the sign ups begin, then make sure you are on my email list which this sign up can be found at http://sherryelaine.com/cohorts.
So Now, Some Final Thoughts
Jesus speaks to this in Matthew 11:28-29:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Soul care goes deeper. It’s not just about making sure we’re rested—it’s about making sure we’re spiritually nourished. Our souls were created for connection with God, and without that, no amount of self-care will make us feel whole.
That phrase—“rest for your souls”—is key. The Greek word for rest here is anapausis (ἀνάπαυσις), which means more than just relaxation. It means deep relief, renewal, and refreshment at the core of who you are. Jesus isn’t offering a vacation—He’s offering a kind of soul rest that the world can’t give.
So there it is right there - Jesus himself says why you need to do what I call soul care. When you are weary and tired and emotionally done and stressed, you are to go to Him. The base word for what is translated as "heavy laden" here is phortizō (φορτίζω), and it was a word in common use in the Roman times, and it was used to refer to both being burdened physically from the toiling of work or manual labor; but it was also used regularly for emotional burdens and for having to bear circumstances that seem too much to bear. So yes - this invitation is for us. It's for physical stress our bodies may be holding and it's for mental and emotional stress that fatigues us and burdens us.
What does Jesus tell us to do with these burdens - both physical and mental? He doesn’t say, make room for self-care. He doesn't say “Take a day off,” or “Go do something fun" or "treat yourself.” He doesn't say to go spend some time in an enjoyable activity for awhile.
He says, Come to me. I am the answer for your weariness. I am the answer for your burdens. I have rest that I will give you. Then he says to "take my yoke upon you," and this means to walk side by side with Him (as oxen work side by sida) and he will be there with you and help you carry the load, with the result being you will find rest for your soul.
Soul care is about being filled and restored by the Spirit of God Himself.
Here’s where we get into trouble. If we try to replace soul care with self-care, we’ll always feel like we’re almost refreshed but not quite. Like we’re almost okay, or we are okay for awhile - but something is still missing and it doesn't last. That’s because our souls don’t just need just plain rest—they need resting with God.
So, How Do We Practice Soul Care?
Soul care isn’t complicated, but it does take intentionality and there are several different practices you can start with. Here are a two simple ways to start:
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Spend Time in God’s Presence in order to truly Rest Spiritually – It's not just prayer and reading the Bible. It is practicing His presence and being aware of His Presence and allowing His presence to comfort you.
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Abide in Christ and Allow Him to Fill You Up With His Goodness – This involves allowing your thought life to abide in the teachings of Jesus and to allow your thoughts to sort of "marinate" - I say that metaphorically of course - in God's thoughts so that His thoughts start to permeate your thoughts, correct and fill your thoughts where needed.
So, is self-care good? Yes it can most definitely be good. But it’s not true renewal. True renewal—deep, lasting soul rest—can only come from being filled by God. There is no other way to truly be renewed and refreshed.
Let’s not settle for short-lived, surface-level rest or refreshment breaks when Jesus is offering something deeper. Instead, let's go away with Him for awhile the kind of rest that truly satisfies. Let's build practices that include soul care with God into our regular weekly and daily routines.
Until next time,
Sherry
Join my email notification list or join the "Sherry's Online Retreat for Christian Women" Facebook Private Group. to learn about the upcoming Summer 2025 online retreat!
More Resources:
New! Prayer and Reflection Journal I Designed! I love how the journal turned out! It has all I need for prayer tracking and reflections and re-setting my mind with struggles I am facing.
Extraordinarily Simple Way to Conquer Cravings
If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today
If you need motivation to eat healthier or lose weight while also growing
closer to God, then you would enjoy Weight Loss for Christians, An
If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy Words of Jesus - Bible Study on Christ's Teachings
More Resource Channels:
Gospel Life Learning Instagram
Sherry Elaine - Books Authored