If you’re anything like me, you’re at least a little bit weary—of pandemics, of partisan politics, of propaganda of all types, of the whole vibe that has come to be known simply as 2020. Perhaps that weariness is part of the reason you find yourself at a website on spiritual wellness.
The great pandemic of 2020 burst on the scene right about the time I was emerging from an extended spiritual wilderness. That spiritual wilderness was brought on by a series of events that eventually led me to re-evaluate practically everything I thought I knew about God, myself, and what it means to have faith in Christ. The whole experience shifted my attention from spiritual growth to spiritual wellness.
Spiritual wellness, for me, is about discovering a ground, a center, a safe space in your relationship with God, where you can reliably find rest and peace in Christ at any time. It’s about finding a spiritual home base, where you know you are loved, welcomed, and accepted, and to which you can return at any time to find the refreshment you need.
Sound too good to be true? I assure you that it’s both good and true. This website is about discovering and exploring the perspectives, principles, and practices that can support your spiritual wellness.
A Key Spiritual Wellness Verse
As I sat down to write this initial message, my mind returned to a saying of Jesus that is well-known but too infrequently practiced:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
This verse has my vote for being one of the most ignored verses in the Bible. Yet Jesus’ invitation to rest is at the heart of what I mean when when I talk about spiritual wellness.
5 Aspects of Spiritual Wellness
In Jesus’ invitation, we find five key aspects of spiritual wellness.
Welcome
Jesus’ invitation is simply to come. How many great relationships are built on the word come?
Come sit with us.
Come grab a cup of coffee with me.
Come hang out around the fire pit with us.
Come join us for dinner.
Come watch the game with me.
Come is a powerful word. It communicates welcome.
Connection
In addition to welcome, there is connection. Jesus didn’t say, “Come sign up for my webinar” or “Come read my book.” He said, “Come to me.” And this isn’t a one-time celebrity meet and greet. Jesus is extending an invitation to a real, ongoing connection. As often as you want to come, he’ll be there for you.
Acceptance
Next, there is acceptance. Notice who the invitation is extended to—”all who are weary and burdened.” And let’s be honest, which of us are not weary and burdened a lot of the time. The invitation is extended to all. There are no pre-qualifications. Nothing you have to prove. No milestones to hit. Are you burdened? Then, come to me.
Rest
The invitation Christ offers in this verse is not to a church service, an evangelistic crusade, or a gospel presentation. He is inviting us to rest. That’s it. That’s the invitation. For me, when I think of rest, words come to mind like evening, weekend, vacation, holiday, and retirement. If Jesus is offering, who am I to turn him down?
Peace
Although he doesn’t use the word, everything Jesus says in this verse communicates peace. The more you rest in Christ, the more you realize Christ can be trusted, the more your faith grows, and the more you can relinquish your need for control. And do you know what I’ve learned about relinquishing control? It brings peace.
Why Spiritual Wellness?
When I chose the name Spiritual Wellness, I knew that some people would immediately resonate with it, while perhaps many others may have questions. So let me say again that, for me, spiritual wellness is about finding a center, a ground, a safe space in Christ where you can find rest and peace when you need it.
Beyond Spiritual Growth
Spiritual wellness is not spiritual growth in disguise. There’s nothing wrong with being spiritual-growth-oriented, but it’s not enough. Too often, placing a priority on spiritual growth involves a subtle focus on measurable outcomes—How much did we read? What do we know? How much do we give? How often do we serve? And seemingly most important, Do we have the “right” beliefs? There is precious little emphasis placed on simply resting in Christ.
Beyond “Right” Beliefs
Speaking of beliefs, some of you may have had experiences with faith communities that made you feel a little cramped, because they focused a lot of energy on making sure you believed precisely as they do. Rather than encouraging you to think for yourself, they strongly encouraged you to accept, without question, the belief system they had already established—all of it.
While beliefs are important, it’s possible to put too much emphasis on them or have too much confidence in them. Right beliefs, after all, do not guarantee a relationship with God. Nor do “incorrect” beliefs preclude a relationship with God. We could probably all use a little more humility in this area and a willingness to let God show us more of who he is.
A Place to Safely Explore
In this space, the question is not, What do you believe? or How much are you doing? but How are you really doing? and What seems to be working—or not working—for you? This space is about having the freedom to explore and discover who God is and who you are–perhaps for the very first time.
As a Christian, I believe that none of us is capable of fully understanding God, and none of us corner the market on how to relate to God. I also strongly believe that all truth is God’s truth, and that we have much to learn from other people—even sometimes outside the traditional Christian faith.
For these reasons, this site is probably not for those who already know everything there is to know about God and themselves and whose only job now is to correct others and show them the truth.
But if you still have room left to learn and grow, I’d love to have you with me on this journey to Spiritual Wellness. I do not consider myself an expert or even a guide, but I’m happy to walk a few steps ahead and help clear the way.
Over the next few weeks I’ll begin to roll out all the plans I have in mind for this site. Most importantly, I want it to be a place of true community, where you can find the courage and support to explore and discover what helps you find rest in Christ.
Peace.
