When I worked as a fundraiser for a women’s ministry, I used to always say there were 3 things that drew me to the ministry: 1) It is Christ-centered, 2) it is Wholistic, and 3) it was about a hand UP not a hand out.
One of the things the ministry did was walk alongside of women who were walking out their recovery from addiction. At the time I was working there, I remember watching a documentary on addiction. As is the nature of documentaries, they were interviewing and following the journey of multiple people who had been in addiction and their attempt at sobriety. What stuck in my mind in particular about this documentary, is that every person who was in the documentary and walking out their recovery either relapsed, or died of an overdose. There was one woman in particular who was in prison. She had been there for 9 months, and clean for 9 months. But she was dead of an overdose several days after being released from prison. How sad is that?
I remember thinking to myself that 3 components were missing in this young woman’s recovery – at least what the documentary revealed. One, all that was taking place for her was that she was simply (forced) to withdraw from the drugs by avoidance because she didn’t have access to the drugs – the “hand up” component was missing. Two, it certainly didn’t appear to be wholistic – the root cause of why she got into addiction to begin with was not addressed – she wasn’t healing emotionally from whatever it was that caused her to turn to the drugs to begin with. And the third, and in my opinion, the most crucial component that was missing in her recovery, was the role of the true Healer, Jesus Christ. It also caused me to realize that there is a big difference between “detoxing” and “recovery.” The former is not usually sustainable, the latter is, provided the 3 components were applied.
Our health is the same way. If we want to truly apply a comprehensive approach to our wholistic health and healing, then we simply cannot overlook the most vital component to this approach, and that is “apart from Jesus Christ we can do nothing.” (John 15:5).
Please hear my heart. I know that some of you who may be reading this do not believe in Jesus Christ. And I am not here to try and cram Him down your throat by any means. You have the total freedom to choose who or what guides your life, whether it be your own power or some other “higher power.” But I also commit to speaking truth to you.
I have met or have heard of too many people who have struggled with drug and/or alcohol addiction. And it is obvious, every single time, that the main reason they struggle is because they are trying to do things in their own limited strength, rather than trusting the God of the Bible with their struggles. But this doesn’t just apply to those struggling with addictions, it applies to all of us, with all of our challenges.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus is telling His disciples, “I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in me and I in him shall produce a large crop of fruit. For apart from me you can’t do a thing.” (John 15:5 The Living Bible).
If we truly want to restore our bodies back to good health, using natural approaches, then we need to address our health wholistically – mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. Spiritual as in trusting the true Healer, Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Why is He considered the Healer? A foundational tenet of the Christian faith is that Jesus Christ died on the cross for all of us – you and me – so that we would be saved from an eternal life in Hell. He also died for our sickness and diseases too. 1 Peter 2:24 says: “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.” (New Living Translation). But He also has given us the freedom to choose whether we want Him in our life or not. If you accept Jesus Christ into your heart and give control of your life fully over to Him, then living a wholistic life is available to you. But if you choose to live life in your own power, you are driving your “health car” with only 3 wheels. In fact, you are missing the most important wheel – the power of the Holy Spirit.
I encourage you, let Jesus Christ be your hand up to live an empowered life, holistically. I did.
To learn more about living a healthy life through the Holy Spirit check out my book “Are You Being Deceived About True Wellness” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C8RFBX87/ or go to my website at: www.jackiemckool.com