As a toddler mama, I’m well aware of my desperate need for soul care, but I’m even more attuned to the unavoidable reality that such care must fit inside ten-minute time windows. (Anything more, and I’ll return to reality and find a toy tractor in the toilet or peanut butter caking my walls.)
Even if you aren’t in a similar life season, no doubt, something else consistently consumes you. Perhaps your teens have you traveling everywhere for ball games, band performances, and play recitals. Or maybe you’re in a season of sickness, where it feels almost unbearable to sit up and focus on the small print of your Bible. Or it could simply be October, the time of year that welcomes a hectic calendar filled with football practices, church festivals, and seasonal traditions.
Nonetheless, finding small bits of time and creative ways to tend to your soul is crucial. It’s far too precious to dismiss or lose, regardless of what you face. But what does simple soul care look like when life hands you a season of unpredictable chaos?
I’ll admit, I’m no theological expert. I don’t have all the answers about the soul of a man. However, with far too much experience in the hectic shuffle of responsibilities and burdens, I can share several practices that I’ve discovered to be helpful (and even hopeful) for the weary heart, mind, and soul, especially in the fall season:
While most believe fall and winter are “sick” seasons because of the changing weather, that’s untrue. In the colder months, we tend to catch the common cold, flu, and other illnesses because we aren’t getting enough Vitamin D, which greatly aids our immune systems.
We stay indoors because it’s not only chilly but darker, but as a result, we aren’t as exposed to the sun, our easiest source of Vitamin D. Thus, it only makes scientific sense that our bodies are more susceptible to viruses, viral infections, and sinus troubles.
We often forget that our heart, body, and soul are interconnected; when we neglect one, we naturally harm the others. So this October, tend to your soul by tending to your body. Get outdoors, even for just a few minutes (though most clinical doctors and holistic wellness practitioners recommend at least twenty minutes).
Whether you take a brisk walk around your neighborhood or sit on your front porch swing with a cup of coffee, let your body absorb the sun. Allow God’s gift of nature to aid your body and ease your mind and soul. (Bonus points if you can use this quiet time in nature to pray, read your Bible, or listen to an audio devotional!)
A fellow believer recently shared with me, “I simply think God has called me to a life of suffering… He wants me holy, not happy.” Though I understand and applaud this woman’s willingness to suffer for God, I believe this “Be holy, not happy” sentiment rarely includes necessary background details.
You can’t convince me that it’s God’s will for people to be forever consumed by chaos, sadness, and hopelessness. In fact, while on earth, Jesus was quite clear when He said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). Jesus died a brutal, unimaginable death and then defeated death so our bodies, minds, and souls could be free from such an impossible weight.
Often, God uses our suffering to cultivate a Christlike heart within us, but it’s unwise to believe that God thrives off our suffering. If you don’t believe me, consider Jesus’ time on earth. Reread the gospels and notice how Jesus spent His time: attending weddings, visiting with His cousins, hosting meals, partaking in Jewish feasts and traditions, etc.
Jesus wasn’t a robot. He had a personality. He likely danced at these weddings, made jokes with His cousins, sang songs around the dinner table, and had His favorite foods at Passover. He didn’t just survive life. He lived it. And I don’t believe He expects any less of us.
I share this: recognize what brings you God-given joy and invest in it, even if only for ten minutes daily. I feel closer to God when I get my hands in the dirt and tend to my plants and flowers. Knowing this, I find quick increments of time to thrift for new pots, stop by my local plant nursery, or even let my toddler help me repot my plants. It continuously astounds me how my mood and entire perspective on a day can change when I take just a few moments to tend to all the green, growing things in my life.
You might care nothing about plants, and that’s totally fine. God made each of us unique. But consider if playing a musical instrument or singing brings you joy. Consider if it’s working out, painting, writing poetry, or even starting a charity or volunteering at the local food bank. Discover what most naturally points you back to the Savior, and let yourself have a hint of fun each day!
One of the quickest ways to implement soul care this busy fall season is by taking a few moments to respectfully, kindly, but firmly say, “I’m so sorry, but I don’t have the time or ability to participate. Thank you for considering me!” Telling others no, especially when you’re afraid of disappointing or upsetting them, can feel hard, even impossible, but it’s crucial to recognize that you can’t do it all. You are one person, one human being limited by time, finances, and abilities.
Establishing healthy boundaries with everyone, from coworkers and bosses to church friends and even family members, is essential and necessary. If you don’t define your capacity or voice your likes/dislikes, people will easily assume you’re always available to do anything—and that’s an impossible feat for any human. Even worse, if you try tackling all of these things all the time, your body will burn out, quickly followed by your mind and soul. These are dangerous waters to dip your toes in, as your body will not only pay a physical price, but your mind and soul will become far too vulnerable to bitterness, pride, and a false sense of control.
Care for your soul this season by taking a few minutes each week to map out your non-negotiable responsibilities. From there, add a time designated for service and another for fun. Incorporate your family, friends, and community into these aspects. Then, see what time you have remaining for extracurriculars. This allows you to recognize your capacity for the next few days to respectfully and honestly say no when your circumstances don’t allow more.
As my friend said, God wants us holy. 1 Peter 1:15-16 emphasizes this command when referencing Leviticus: "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, because I am holy.'" However, holiness doesn’t mean we sacrifice the well-being of our souls.
Instead, we are commanded to lay down our idols and sacrifice our sins and selfishness for the sake of caring for our souls. Our souls aren’t meant to stay in a state of suffering, but to face challenging seasons and find the other side with a renewed sense of hope and faith in the goodness of God. However, we won’t recognize this goodness if we don’t feed our souls good things, like time in creation, time in hobbies that bring us God-given joy, and time in abstaining from world-induced stress.
Look for God’s goodness in the ordinary, chase down the joy He grants us in those tiny moments of quiet and sweetness, and believe that God champions your heart and soul as you strive to be more like Him.
May your soul rest in this grace: “Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6, KJV).
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