Soul Care

"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."

3 John 1:2 (NKJV)

This week I have been experiencing the peace of time away, beginning with laying by the pool all day Sunday and then experiencing great rest in the days to follow. I am participating in a leadership conference that encourages enrichment, but the priority is rest and soul care for clergy. Listening to presenters remind this room of clergy that self-care is not selfish and sabbath is rest is vital to life. In reflecting on these teachings it raised questions about how we all manage soul care? Soul the immaterial part of a person which is the actuating cause of an individual life.

In our verse today, John writes to Gaius with a beautiful, holistic prayer: that your life would flourish outwardly in proportion to how your soul flourishes inwardly. In ministry and the hustle of life, burnout is common because we give out more than we take in. But the soul must be replenished, not just expended. Your soul is not a machine; it is a garden and gardens flourish not through striving—but through consistent tending. You are allowed to: slow down, say no, seek help, and rest deeply. Institutions reward productivity, hustle, and visibility. But God measures prosperity differently, heaven’s metric is soul health.

Lord,

Amidst the noise of our busy lives, help us to hear Your whisper.

In the clutter of our schedules, anchor us in eternal rhythms.

Let our souls prosper even if our planners are full.

Grow us deep so we can stand strong. Teach us to prioritize care for our souls.

Amen.