Tired, worn out and feeling meh this summer? You’re still loved and seen

As I write this, I’m tucked up in bed with a box of tissues, a mug of honey and lemon, and what feels like a thousand layers I keep piling on and peeling off, depending on whether I’m sweating or shivering.

Yes, I’ve been hit by a summer cold — and not the dainty kind either. You know the one… head pounding, body aching, nose running in a very colourful way (I’ll spare you the details!). 

 And what makes it worse? It’s AUGUST. The sun is shining, the parks are buzzing with kids squealing in delight, and I can literally hear the whir of hedge trimmers and the hum of planes overhead, whisking people off on their summer hols. Meanwhile, I’m horizontal, in my pyjamas, hair looking like I’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards, and wondering when I last brushed my teeth.  

Now, don’t get me wrong — I love the summer. I love family adventures, ice creams by the beach, and all the wonderful Christian festivals we’re blessed with in the UK. This year alone I’ve had the joy of being at Wildfires, New Wine, Scripture Union beach missions, and cheering on local community teams bringing Jesus to the seaside. I’m all in! 

But sometimes… maybe it’s a bit too much? 

The hustle of the holidays can feel relentless, can’t it? Trying to keep the kids entertained, catch up with friends and family, make the most of the longer days, and still somehow squeeze in a holiday (or at least a few BBQs!). And for those of us in Christian ministry, summer can be one of the busiest seasons of all. 

So here I am now, forced to stop. To slow down. To rest. And in the stillness, I’ve been reminded of something beautiful.

The world looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. Isn’t that just the most liberating thing?

A friend messaged me this morning. Her little girl saw a glamorous lady on telly and said, “Mummy, that’s you!” My friend laughed and shared the moment with me, and I replied, “Wow, what a compliment — hair goals!” The woman had fabulous, big curly hair like ours. And my friend replied, “I’m just flattered my daughter thinks I look like that.” 

And I said, “But the thing is — you do look like that to her.” 

You see, our children don’t see the unwashed hair, the bags under our eyes, or the extra biscuit we maybe shouldn’t have eaten. They see us — their mummy, their daddy, the one who loves them unconditionally. They see the heart. And it struck me… that’s how God sees us too. 

He’s not caught up in whether we’ve achieved ‘bikini-body-ready’ (whatever that even means), or if we’re smashing our steps on our Fitbit, or whether our Insta looks ‘on point’. Whether I’m glammed up for a festival or curled up in bed under a blanket with a red nose and a pile of laundry around me — he sees my heart. 

The world looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Isn’t that just the most liberating thing? 

So if you, like me, are feeling a bit run-down, a bit worn out, or just a bit meh in this season — please hear this: your value is not based on your productivity, your appearance, or how ‘together’ you seem to be. You are already fully known and fully loved. By the God who made you, who sees you, who’s with you in every season — even the sniffling, sweaty, snuggled-up-in-bed ones. 

And one day, friends, we’ll be with him where there’s no more sickness, no more striving, no more insecurity. Just perfect joy, perfect peace, and perfect presence. But until then, let’s be kind to our bodies, gentle with our hearts, and remind each other often: You are beautiful. You are loved. And you are seen — just as you are. 

Now, if you’ll excuse me… I need another tissue.