Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, ‘Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.’”
NL Daily Devotion for Friday, January 15, 2021
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
So many of us struggle to discern the difference between selfishness and self-care. I spent most of the last decade keeping the peace in my own home, raising special needs kids, administrating the household, seeing to everyone’s needs, doing paid work when I could, etc. And even though I was intentional about doing self-care—taking retreats, finding creative outlets—I often felt guilty for those things, which cost money or time or both.
The truth is that all of us are called to sacrifice in one way or another in our lives. Not many of us will experience what Elijah did—a call to declare God’s very unpopular word to very powerful people, resulting in death threats. But that doesn’t mean our struggles aren’t real. And before God called Elijah back to his work, he made sure Elijah had what he needed to take care of himself, telling him ‘Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.’ We, too, need to make sure to do appropriate self-care, or life’s journey will be to overwhelming to bear.
How am taking care of myself and allowing God to take care of me today?
