Healthy Boundaries

God set boundaries when creating the earth, but also boundaries in the form of commandments to protect us. Right from the creation of man in the garden of Eden, the Lord gave Adam and Eve much freedom but commanded them not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When Adam and Eve crossed that boundary and sinned, it brought death and separation into the world.

The Lord’s rescue plan was sending Jesus to die for humanity, conquering sin and death, and creating a way for us to no longer be separated from our heavenly Father, through Him. It was for freedom that Christ set us free and His word teaches us what and where the safe boundaries are in life.

In my late twenties, after being a missionary for some years, I had to look carefully at boundaries in my life. As a Christian, I wrongly thought I needed to be all things to all people, and with that approach, I was forgetting to take care of myself, leading to a chronic exhausted state. I was doing lots of good and godly things, but wasn’t taking time out. I used Philippians 4:13 to justify my busyness ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!’, while ignoring the healthy boundary of taking that one day of rest a week assigned by the Lord Himself.

A revelation came on this journey too. I realised that my sense of value had been inextricably linked with what I did for others and God, rather than having my identity and worth rooted in who am I as a child of God. Resting in our God-given identity and learning to ‘be’ rather than ‘do’ can take time.

The psalms offer a beautiful glimpse into the life of King David, who learned many lessons in his life, including the role of boundaries. He writes in Psalm 16:6, ‘The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance’. He shares in this psalm that, with the Lord at his right hand, he would not be shaken, and even that his body was resting secure. It seems David was learning the beauty and safety which comes with boundaries.

‘Our body resting secure’, as David mentions, is a precious thing which comes out of time with the Lord and having healthy boundaries. Having one day of rest a week was the Lord’s idea and, when we don’t take time out to recharge, stress can creep in through the door.

Healthy boundaries are crucial in order for us to keep running the race without fading with exhaustion, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, as well as physically.

Have you, or has someone you know, been running on empty? A walk in nature, a fun-filled evening, with no end goal other than to have fun or a nice soak in a bath, can do more than we realise. Perhaps today is the day to take time to recharge and watch the Lord renew your strength as you wait on Him.