Stop Being So Compassionate to Yourself!

Audio By Carbonatix

It’s time to stop being too compassionate to yourself. I know, I know. That first line sounds wrong, doesn’t it?

We live in a world that tells us things like:

• Be kind to yourself
• Take a break
• Show yourself compassion

And you know what? That’s not all bad advice. I’ve had my own seasons where I needed to hear those words. But lately, I’ve been wondering if we’ve taken it a little too far.

Here’s the truth I’ve been wrestling with: sometimes we slap the word compassion over something that’s actually avoidance.

Like…

• “I’m just being compassionate with myself” — so I’ll ignore that nudge from the Holy Spirit to forgive her.
  
• “I’m in a season of self-care” — so I won’t sign up for that Bible study or serve at church.
  
• “I need to protect my peace” — so I’m not going to step into that hard conversation or obey God’s call.

Friend, this isn’t about ignoring real rest, boundaries, or mental health. (Believe me, as a mom of 10, I get it.) But there’s a difference between godly rest and comfort-zone captivity.

Let’s go to Scripture:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down… and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” —Hebrews 12:1 

I laugh imagining the “great cloud of witnesses” with our 2025 version of self-care:

• Noah: “I was going to start building the ark, but I needed a mental health afternoon, so I took a bubble bath and journaled my feelings instead.”
  
• Moses: “The burning bush was cool, but I’m working on my boundaries. That kind of intensity isn’t healthy.”
  
• Esther: “I could go before the king, but that sounds toxic. I’m protecting my peace.”
  
• Paul: “Another missionary journey? I’m actually in a season of deep rest and TikTok scrolling.”
  

It sounds silly, but isn’t that sometimes us? We trade the calling for comfort. We let fear wear the disguise of wisdom. We sidestep obedience in the name of “being gentle with ourselves.”

Yet the Apostle Paul reminds us:

“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” —Philippians 3:14

Press on. Not curl up. Not check out. Not excuse ourselves. This walk of faith is a race, not a spa day. It’s a journey of becoming. And yes, that includes rest, but it also requires resilience.

Let me be clear:

• Being compassionate to yourself is not numbing your pain with food, TV, social media, or substances.
• It’s not indulging every impulse under the banner of “being kind to yourself.”
• True compassion is partnering with the Holy Spirit to heal, grow, and obey … especially when it’s hard.
• True compassion is whispering, “Yes, Lord,” when He nudges you out of your comfort zone.
• It is choosing discipline over distraction.
• It is loving God and others with your whole heart, even when it stretches you.

So today, maybe we need to stop being so compassionate in the way the world defines it and start living with Holy Spirit courage instead.

Let’s press on, friends. Let’s show ourselves the kind of compassion that leads to obedience, purpose, and freedom. You in?

Additional Resources

Daily Bible Podcast

We’re Tricia and Michelle, two friends inviting you to join us in reading through the Bible chronologically this year with the Daily Bible Podcast. Reading the Bible every day can be a challenge. We’re here to summarize each day’s passage and provide action steps … in under 15 minutes. Grab a buddy and join our community. Take the plunge, and let’s read through the Bible together. We’ll be cheering you on all the way!

You can join us using your own One Year Bible© (if you’d like to purchase one, you can grab your preferred version using the links below). Or you can print up the One Year Chronological Reading Plan. If you don’t have a copy of the One Year Bible©, we will have the exact passages for the next day in the show notes. You can also subscribe to the One Year Chronological Bible Reading plan on the YouVersion Bible App.