Living A Holystic Life

Still and Well

BY MELISSA KESSLER, INHC, MA

What thoughts come to mind when the topic of wellness comes up? You may think that wellness refers to eating a healthy diet and exercising, going to the doctor, or even taking the right vitamins and supplements. Sure, each of these contributes to wellness, but many people believe that following this protocol ensures good health, guaranteeing they will never get sick or experience disease. Unfortunately, this isn’t exactly the case, although sometimes I wish I could say it was just that easy.

Here’s the thing, God did not create us to live in chaos or turmoil. If you are running around doing all the things I mentioned above but neglect to sit still and take a break, you may run into a little hiccup. I have a line that I say and fully believe: “You cannot be well if you don’t take time to be still.”

Hear me out and please don’t turn this page and think it’s not speaking to you. If you are a mom, wife, homemaker, career woman, or serve in ministry or elsewhere, this is for you. I speak on this topic from personal experience and education. I fall into each of the categories I’ve just listed, and I know that many responsibilities come with each of them.

I used to fulfill all these roles and never take a rest. Honestly, I’m not sure if I ever got any sleep for a few years of my life. Instead, my focus was on getting everything done. As a health coach, I helped other women be well. Then, of course, I cared for my children, including getting them where they needed to be. I stood by my husband’s side as a wife. Taking care of our home meant having food on the table and cleaning up. And serving in church was always on my plate. Who am I kidding? There was no time for rest.

Eventually, there came a time when my body told me I couldn’t keep up the pace. I didn’t want to listen at first, but ultimately, I had no choice. During that time of healing and slowing down, which came at God’s request, I learned that we cannot be well without finding time to be still. It took many tiresome days to realize that was what God was teaching me.

Hopefully, this is all starting to make sense to you.

Our bodies need rest to be able to function and stay healthy. I’m not talking about rest as in Netflix and chill, going to the movies, or getting your nails done. Sorry, I know you may have been excited about that, but this rest is much better than those things. What I am talking about is being still - in God’s presence.

When you take some time to sit in a quiet space with the Lord, cast all your anxieties on Him (1 Peter 5:7), and hear all that He has for you, something happens that is almost unexplainable. God provides a peace that surpasses all understanding. (Philippians 4:7) And we all need more of that - a lot more of that.

We live in a time where we are each expected, not necessarily by anyone except ourselves, to do everything. Many of us hold onto a belief that if we stop and take care of ourselves, we will not be good enough, worthy of love, or fulfill our duties as Christians. But this couldn’t be more wrong. We can’t do anything to make God love us any more than He already does. In fact, God expects us to rest and be still because He knows that is what we need both physically and spiritually, and He LOVES spending time with us!

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" (Psalm 46:10 ESV)

"Stop striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" (Psalm 46:10 NASB)

I got truly well only when I took the time to be still. Stepping away from the busyness of life and sitting with God changed so much: it allowed my body to heal, my mind to quiet down, my hormones to function harmoniously, and God’s peace to enter my life. You can experience this, too.

Could you take just ten minutes of your day to sit still in His presence?

Whether or not you have a relationship with the Lord, try it and see what happens. I know you will be amazed at the outcome of sitting in silence and allowing the Holy Spirit to fill the room. Open up a space for stress to roll off your shoulders and receive true wellness.

"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." (3 John 1:2 NIV)

Melissa is a wife and mom of tween and teen boys who are a huge inspiration in her life. She is a bestselling author and Hormone Health Coach who helps women who are burned out infuse balance into their lives and hormones and experience a peace that surpasses all understanding. (Phil 4:7) She has been practicing holistic health for about ten years, is a truth speaker, and lives according to the Word of God. Learn more fromMelissa on all social media platforms @stillwellnessmeditation