What might wellness look like to you? I like to imagine myself fit and healthy, resting, relaxing and reading at the beach, feeling calm, unhurried, unworried and happy. Preparing to stretch my limbs and swim or run along the shore, perhaps. The reality? Quite a bit different, actually.

There are numerous organisations and activities solely aimed at showing us how to achieve a beach-honed body and a relaxed mindset. Yet any change they provide is often transitory. Because most of us have a way of falling back into the bad habits that got us unhealthy and stressed in the first place. Sad but true.

Truth is, I would love to be strong and well. Many have prayed for that to happen over the years, and on the surface it looks like their prayers were in vain. But that’s not true. While I still battle with having M.E and chronic illness, I have a soul balm that soothes me on the inside, found in my relationship with Jesus Christ. 

What if being well, healed and whole was more of an inside job than we imagine? With external and internal assistance from God. Because the greater miracle, the alternative healing could be learning to live well with our problems and challenges, instead of being cured. And that is a path that will lead to our soul’s deeper wellness and tranquillity.

Wellness could look like having faith enough to trust all will be well even if it doesn’t look like it yet. God will always help us to be well equipped for everything we might face. We just need to ask for His help and receive His grace. You and I may not be “in the pink” or have everything “coming up roses” but we can rest in being perfectly known, cared for and loved by God.  And in knowing He will eventually make all things well for us.

Longings

I want to sit
in the safest of places
cradled close
where your soft love-light is
where genuine peace exists

I want to abide
branch out with Spirit fruit
gaining strength
trust in your providence
stay rooted deep in Christ

I want to rise
like a bird freed from her cage
with hope and joy
well equipped and supplied
ready to face all of life

I want to stand
give my testimony of faith
and have courage
to go where you direct me
to minister to others
(C ) joylenton

Once again, I’m delighted to be joining my five-minute-friday poem with the talented community of fellow wordsmiths gathering at our gracious host Kate Motaung’s place as we write on this week’s prompt of “well.” You are warmly invited to join us here and read the great variety of posts being shared. 🙂