3 John 2:2 Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
What is Health?
According to Medical News Today, health is a state of physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
For many, when the word health is mentioned, their mind immediately thinks of physical only. We think about how to get in shape and throw away the hamburger we just purchased. However, I believe being healthy is more than physical it covers other areas such as emotional, mental, relational, spiritual, and financial. You might ask how can these other areas be considered. I believe, in one way or another, those areas can impact us positively or negatively in our daily lives. When we lack knowledge, it stops us from fully maximizing them, or misguided information can be the culprit too. As an African American woman, over the years, I have seen the trials within my own family and how we failed to increase our knowledge in other areas yet advancing spiritually. Most of us leaned into being a child of God yet neglected the different areas that can equally impact us. Or others ignored spirituality because they felt like it was a bunch of hypocrites or people being brainwashed yet ineffective in other areas. However, as I have grown in knowledge, I realize that religion can hinder us, not God but religion and our inability to educate ourselves to live better. It’s not that God doesn’t work; it’s that we do not understand the word (the Bible) correctly to see God. It’s not that you can’t be the best mentally; you haven’t learned how to manage your emotions to be sane. It’s not that you can’t have money; you don’t know how to handle it to save your life. Lastly, it is not that you can’t be healthy; you lack the information or the discipline to get physically fit.
Proverbs 15:22 states, Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers, they succeed. (NIV)
We fail to realize that God has provided other resources or people in the world to help us get results. The church is not going to provide every resource we need. God has allowed people to get educated in certain professions to help us move forward, but our mentality could be that it is not a “black thing” to do. When it is not about being black or white, it’s about getting the information you need to live a whole life. I have seen how a lack of knowledge and over-spiritualizing situations can hinder us because we fail to take responsibility for our lives. This post sheds light on my perspective of being an African American woman speaking to the African American community in and outside the church on how we can be healthy in all areas and my take on how every area of our lives can affect our overall health.
Below I will give a brief detail on each area of health: spiritual, emotional/mental, financial, relational, and physical. I will also provide resources that will give you a jump start in the right direction or people/places I have used to help me in those areas.
Disclaimer: In all these areas that I have provided information, I am not trying to sway you in any way to become Christian or use any resources listed. I am listing scriptures because I am a Christian. However, I will say that in any area, you have to find the best person or tool that works for you. Remember that people are people, so they make mistakes, and sometimes they don’t have all the information, which can lead people astray. So be mindful, give people grace, and use wisdom. Lastly, these are my opinions, and for any medical, financial, or relational advice, please consult your physician or advisor for your path.
Spiritual
Spirituality is needed, and a supportive church community makes it even better. I was led to my church, and you will know which church to attend because it will be prompting in your spirit like this is where I belong. However, growing up in the church as a child, I realize how we can over-spiritualize every situation, which can be a disadvantage to the believer.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” — Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Romans 8:28 All things work together for the good of those who love God and who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, faith without WORKS is dead also.
This is where I have a problem and not with the word but with how people can use faith but forget the responsibility they have to take. We want God to do everything when he gave us dominion. We pray for miracles in finance, physical health, emotional health, etc., but we fail in these areas because we did not take time to educate ourselves.
Yes, God can do anything; sometimes, he will do miracles, but the responsibility primarily falls on us. We can live less than God’s best because we fail to participate in the life that he gave us free will — or live in potential when he is waiting on us to do something.
Hosea 4:6 My people perish for lack of knowledge. (NIV)
I noticed being in church, we are being preached to by how healthy the leader’s perspective is. What I mean by that is you will be taught to their level of knowledge and health or unhealthiness in that area, and it is up to you to learn more outside of the church.
- Find the church home that works for you. (Spirit-led, Bible-based, etc.)
- Choose a leader that reflects the characteristics you want to develop.
- Choose a church that provides the resources you are looking for, such as women’s groups, seminars, children’s schools, etc.
As a medical student, I had to find a church that could reach me globally. My favorites are linked below.
Pastor Dharius Daniels — I attend this church weekly online. I try to involve myself in their group sessions when possible.
Union Church — I love the worship here. Even when I was away for my graduate program this was a church I attended often.
Bishop TD Jakes — I watch him mainly for weekly bible study, but I do alternate between Bishop Jakes and Pastor Daniels.
Emotional
Our emotional health can affect a lot of the things we do. For example, depression can sap you of energy, leaving you in a dark space with no desire to live life. Trauma can rob you emotionally and will have you responding to life and others out of hurt. A bad breakup affects the decisions you make as well if you never take the time to heal.
That was me on my journey to medical school. I was so excited on the way that when I finally became a medical student, I was frustrated, overeating, and depressed the entire first year. I was too far in to turn back, and it was nothing that I expected it to be. Watch my video Your Friends Are Not Your Therapist on my YouTube channel.
My first time applying to get a therapist was in medical school because I had no idea how to shake the depression, and I am usually upbeat. I had no desire to do anything, and I did not care to continue working on being a doctor, even though I had worked hard to get here.
If you watch my video on Therapy is Not All You Need, you will hear my story about depression. I learned in that season that I need a therapist to help me with my current issues, but I still need God to speak to my future.
Below is a link to Better Help and another link for free therapy if you can’t afford it.
Therapy in a Nutshell — YouTube
Financial
Financial health is wealth. I say that because we need money for everything. Ecclesiastes 10:19 gives us a reference to this — A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything. Some of life’s most stressful experiences stem from insufficient money.
I recommend using the book of Proverbs to give you some understanding of money and obtain a financial advisor to help with your goals.
Dave Ramsey — Ramsey Solutions
Proverbs 21:20 — “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.”
Proverbs 13:11 — “Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.”
Deuteronomy 8:18 — “But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.”
Relational Health
Relationships matter. We interact with people in everything we do and need to know how to manage them. In my research about healthy relationships, I started to find words like gaslighting, love bombing, and narcissism and had no idea I was the victim of them. This is how our whole life can turn for the worse when we choose the wrong people to partner with or befriend.
Pastor Dharius Daniels — Relational Intelligence Book
Proverbs 18:24 — A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly, but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. (KJV)
Physical Health
Lastly, physical health can overshadow every area because it can limit you. If you don’t take care of your health, it can stop you from working a job, hindering your progress financially. We can see the benefits of good physical health from endorphins released when we exercise and how they elevate our mood.
Always be ready with questions but the key is asking the right questions. How will you ask the right questions? By knowing yourself, identifying what needs improvement and taking action to get help. So let’s be the best physically to dominate in other areas.
YouTube.com — A great source to find videos for fitness, nutrition, meal prep etc.
As always contact your local physician before starting anything that could affect your health.
In Conclusion
Life is not fair, yes, but a fight isn’t either. It is up to us to pivot, strategize and put ourselves in the best position in life. It is no one’s responsibility but yours.
As you can see, we need to advance in all areas because God wants us to live abundantly. We are provided with resources in every area to grow. So let’s not rely on the church to find what we can. Once we do our part, we can see God’s miracles and favor because it takes faith and action. Now, you can believe God for the impossible.