What do you think of when you hear “self-care”? Let’s be honest: most of us think of massages, steam baths, face masks, and indulging on a special treat while binge-watching Netflix. But is that really the kind of self-care that will sustain us in the long run? The truth is, it’s a shallow, temporary fix at best. In Good News About Self-Care , pastor and theologian Benjamin Espinoza takes us beyond the surface-level indulgences that dominate today’s self-care culture. Instead, he presents self-care as a deeply Christian practice rooted in our relationships with God, others, and society. This book reframes self-care as an act of faithfulness and stewardship, showing us that true self-care is much deeper than just pampering ourselves―it’s loving and caring for ourselves in a way that fuels our mission to love God and neighbor wholeheartedly. Key Features: Theological framework : Explores self-care as a Christian practice, connected to our relationship with God, society, and creation. - Practical guidance : Offers tangible steps for integrating self-care into a thriving, guilt-free Christian lifestyle. - Discussion questions : At the end of each chapter, these questions encourage reflection and group discussion for deeper learning and healing. In a time when exhaustion, stress, and burnout are widespread―especially among Christian leaders―here is a timely and life-giving message. Espinoza bridges the gap between secular self-care and a Christ-centered approach, providing a sustainable, healthy, joyful, and theologically rich framework that helps readers live out self-care in a way that honors God and strengthens their ministry. This book speaks to the heart of struggles many Christians face but often feel too afraid to voice. Ben does a fantastic job of inviting readers into a sacred, safe space, one where they can wrestle with and identify the pressures they carry while also discovering practical and theologically sound steps forward. This is a great resource for people who are just beginning to explore what self-care means in a Christian context and for those who have been on this journey for some time. David Whyte, district superintendent of the Wesleyan Holiness Church (UK) In Good News About Self-Care Benjamin Espinoza, a highly accomplished pastor, writer, and academic, explains how he learned the hard way about the importance of taking care of himself. In the past, he thought self-care was fluff, the habit of the weak. In these pages, Espinoza demonstrates that self-care is a biblical practice. He recounts how Jesus practiced self-care in his own life and cites examples from Scripture wherein God makes self-care a priority for his people. Espinoza adroitly highlights that Christian self-care is countercultural, enabling us to resist the culture’s push for productivity and the dehumanization of ourselves and our fellow human beings. Above all, self-care enables us to more fully honor God. Espinoza knows well of what he speaks. Listen to him. Marlena Graves, author of Bearing God In this book Benjamin Espinoza effectively illustrates two key foundations of the Christian life: (1) Jesus wants us to live abundant lives and (2) he is the Lord of our lives, not us. Therefore, a proper understanding of ourselves and our relationship with the Lord helps us practice self-care, enabling us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves adequately. This honest and practical book will indeed bring good news to our oftentimes weary souls. Octavio Esqueda, professor of Christian higher education at the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University Self-care is the word of the decade. Yet it has confusing practices, and in many ways, no definition at all. Good News About Self-Care is truly that: good news! The writing style is compelling, especially when coupled with Ben’s vulnerability and humility, and this book is packed with solid practices for self-care that is healthy both physically and spiritually. The probing questions at the end of each chapter call for deeper reflection. I highly recommend this book for spiritual and mental growth, no matter one’s calling, profession, or work. Jo Anne Lyon, general superintendent emerita of The Wesleyan Church Ben Espinoza’s Good News About Self-Care is refreshing in its simplicity and authenticity. Ben seamlessly weaves stories of his own journey toward emotional, spiritual, and relational health with insights from the lives of people we read about in Scripture―especially Jesus. Ben admits his own tendency toward overwork and dares us to disarm the incessant demands of connectivity and productivity we all face. He calls us to sanity, boundaries, and positive attention to all aspects of appropriate self-care so that, as persons created in the image of God, we can flourish. Linda Adams, bishop of the Free Methodist Church in Canada Ben Espinoza is a seasoned leader, educator, theologian, and human being who shares his thoughtful insights on self-care