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Start With Grace

Being a follower of Jesus is often described as a journey, a walk with our Shepherd through the hills and valleys of life, experiencing a variety of subjects.

One topic that has come to the forefront for men is physical and mental health, and how they impact our spiritual health. We live in a world that seems far more open to this conversation than in generations past.

When it comes to “health,” we often define it in three ways:

· Physical health: The idea that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we need to care for them (1 Corinthians 6:19).

· Mental health: The idea that men can face challenges like depression and anxiety, and how Jesus has defeated them both (Matthew 11:28-30).

· Spiritual health: The idea of being able to stand in the storms of life and anchor our faith in Jesus, no matter what (Hebrews 6:19-20).

This is a topic that has often challenged me.

I am not a physically big guy. Does that mean I can’t be physically healthy?

I have also travelled the paths of anxiety and depression. Does that mean I can’t be mentally healthy?

And if I am lacking in these two, does that mean I am not spiritually healthy?

Those are big questions that deserve our attention, but too often, as men, we tend to get down on ourselves before the conversation even starts. It’s like we start from a place of defeat, which then defines our answers instead of letting Jesus do that.

So, let’s make an agreement with each other:

As we examine these matters this week, we will start from a place of grace. We need grace for ourselves because grace is where Jesus starts with us (2 Corinthians 12:9).

This week, as we examine stories of some of the men of the Bible and Scripture's teaching on physical and mental health, my prayer is that we will be able to discern God’s truth and grow in our spiritual health.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for Your grace in my life, and that You care about me and my health. Help me this week to see more of what You have for me. Amen.

Reflection: What does thinking about your physical, mental, and spiritual health make you feel? How can you see God’s grace at work in each area of your life?

* Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references will be from the New International Version (NIV).