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Choosing to be Well

Do you want to be well?

Insights from John 5:1-15 

The Gospel of John tells the story of Jesus’ miraculous healing of the man at the Pool of Bethesda. Fed by an underground spring, the people believed that as the waters were stirred, the first person into the pool would be healed of their affliction. Jesus had come to Jerusalem to celebrate one of the feasts. He walked by this area where people who were blind, lame, and paralyzed would be, day after day, hoping for their chance to be healed by the waters.

There was a man who had come to the pool for 38 years. Perhaps this was the day he had decided to give up, that his chances of getting into the waters without assistance were impossible. He had come to accept his condition as permanent. Both his body and hope were paralyzed.

Jesus sees the man and approaches him asking, “Do you want to be well?” Most of us read this verse and think, “That’s an odd question to ask an invalid. Of course, he wants to be well.” But Jesus knows his heart and his inquiry is insightful. The man responds with his resigned reasoning, “Sir, I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

Weight loss. Lack of energy. Sleepless nights. Stress-filled life. Pain. Chronic health issues. Sometimes we resign ourselves to accepting these health challenges without considering wellness as a possibility. Like the man by the Pool of Bethesda, we don’t think that the condition can improve without a miraculous healing. Yet, there are some health situations where our choices and unhealthy habits contribute to our state of well-being. The good news is that habits can change. Healthy choices can be made. Sometimes we need an encouraging voice and fresh ideas to get us back on track to well-being.

Jesus asks, “Do you want to be well?”

Each day, we make choices that contribute to our well-being or deter our health. We make food choices that heal or harm our bodies. We decide about our level of physical activity. We allow stress to have a prevalent hold in our lives. Most of us spend too much time in front of an electronic screen and too little time in nature. We nurture grudges rather than gratitude. We feed anger the seeds of hate and mistrust. We accept disruptive relationships rather than confronting issues that destroy our peace. Many of us doubt our value and worth and live a resigned life of sabotaging self-criticism. Rather than choosing to make a life-honoring change, we resign ourselves to destructive habits and festering wounds of resentment. 

Read John 5:1-15 

Jesus asks, “Do you want to be well?”

Let’s explore what the Bible says about self-care including nutrition, physical activity, and life-building habits. Is it time to move beyond “I know I need to change” and explore how you will answer Jesus’ question, “Do you want to be well?”

Phyllis Fox is a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach and co-owner of Choice Wellness and Counseling. She and her husband, Doug, live in Johnson City, Tennessee. Together, they have a daughter and son-in-law that have blessed them with two adorable grandsons. Phyllis is a Bible study leader and elder at Grandview Christian Church, Johnson City, Tennessee.

Choosing to be Well

What are you doing here?

Insights on the Prophet Elijah, 1 Kings 19 

Fear. Anxiety. Discouragement. Depression. These are not new feelings brought about by the COVID Pandemic. Sometimes these feelings are brought about by poor nutrition and excessive stress. The Old Testament shares a story of how fear of the unknown and physical exhaustion affects emotions.

Elijah was a mighty prophet of God. He stood firm in his convictions to reveal God to the people of Israel. But like all of us, when we are tired from working day and night, feelings get out of balance. When we fail to give our bodies proper sleep and rest, we suffer physically and mentally.

Elijah’s life was threatened, and he was on the run. He escaped to the wilderness and was so tired and discouraged that he prayed to God to die. He laid down under a tree and fell sound asleep.

This great prophet was running on empty. How often has that happened to you? The stress of jobs, families, obligations, and responsibilities can deplete our bodies and souls. Without proper nutrition, we set ourselves up for anxiety, depression, and illness. While your life may not be threatened by an angry, power-mad queen, you can find yourself in similar physical and mental circumstances as Elijah.

God sent an angel to minister to Elijah with plenty of water and fresh baked bread. With good rest, food, and water, he was able to continue traveling.

To enjoy vibrant health, our bodies need—

• Whole food nutrition
• Lots of clean water
• Healthy movement and exercise
• Adequate sleep
• Rest and relaxation for stress reduction
• Community and relationships

When we eat foods that don’t supply our bodies with acceptable nutrition, we may suffer with anxiety, depression, and many other health challenges. Without quality sleep, we may find ourselves overweight and cranky. Our bodies need physical activity to thrive and protect us from many diseases that occur with a sedentary lifestyle. Nourishing rest and time spent outside in nature stimulates our creativity and provides a deep sense of gratitude. Being in loving relationships where we contribute to our communities feeds our self-esteem and feelings of worth and value.

When Elijah arrived at Mount Sinai, God asked him, “What are you doing here?”

Maybe you are wondering how you got to where you are today. What behaviors are making your life more challenging? Are you thinking that you need to improve your health with some better habits? Perhaps you recognize that something needs to change to give you more joy and contentment in your daily life.

Let’s explore what the Bible says about self-care including nutrition, physical activity, and life-building habits. Is it time to move beyond, “I know I need to change” and explore what wellness looks like in your life?

Learn more.  Choicewellnessandcounseling.com/canopy

For more insight into Elijah, the mighty prophet of God, read 1 Kings 19.

Phyllis Fox is a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach and co-owner of Choice Wellness and Counseling. She and her husband, Doug, live in Johnson City, Tennessee. Together, they have a daughter and son-in-law that have blessed them with two adorable grandsons. Phyllis is a Bible study leader and elder at Grandview Christian Church, Johnson City, Tennessee.