One of the biggest blessings God gives to us may very well be our health and wellness. Unfortunately, we often don’t realize this amazing blessing until we become sick. There have been many occasions when I have heard people struggling with illness say, “If you have your health, you have everything.” I can’t say exactly when this happened, but I eventually heard those words enough that I began to consider everything that being healthy allows me to do. For me, that was the beginning of being just a little more grateful for the blessing of health and wellness that God has given to me.
Bringing healing and restoration to people was one of the primary evidences that Jesus used to help people know that He is the Messiah when He was walking the earth. When His cousin John was imprisoned for telling the truth to Herod, the Tetrarch, about marriage and divorce (Matthew 14:1-5), John eventually questioned if Jesus was the Messiah and sent a couple of his followers to ask or if the Jews should look for another. Jesus told John’s followers to tell John that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them, and blessed is he who isn’t offended because of Him (Matthew 11:2-4). Jesus was referencing Isaiah 35:5-6 when he pointed out the various healings. Here are 6 blessings that remind us to honor God with our health every single day.
1. The Blessing of Vision
1. The Blessing of Vision
Most people love a beautiful sunny day that includes a blue sky, green leaves on the trees, fragrant flowers, and a mild temperature. There’s something about sunshine, especially after several days of clouds and rain, that seems to put us in a good mood. Taking a brief moment during a day like that to just stop and thank God that we get to see such beauty is a small way we can honor Him with what we see. That being said, the rain is still needed for those green leaves and fragrant flowers, so thanking Him for the rain and clouds that bring forth that beauty can make a rainy day have just a bit of meaning and purpose. Our vision also gives us the blessing of being able to drive a car, see our loved ones, enjoy movies and sporting events, read, and so much more. Just thanking Him in general, that we can see, is a simple way to honor Him with our eyes.
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2. The Blessing of Walking
2. The Blessing of Walking
It can be easy to get annoyed when all the parking places close to the store are taken up, and we happen to be in a hurry to get things done. While it may not feel like it at the moment, not being in need of a handicapped parking space is a blessing for which God deserves to be thanked. The gift of walking and not being lame (or injured) is something that’s so easily taken for granted. Walking allows us to enjoy being independent, and healthy legs are a blessing that allow us to go hiking, bicycling, dancing, easily make our way through any store, enjoy a vacation, and do so many other activities.
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3. The Blessing of a Healthy Immune System
3. The Blessing of a Healthy Immune System
This is another one that can be easy to take for granted. Our immune system fights off colds, the flu virus, various bacteria, and even illnesses that are much more serious. Sometimes, our immune system needs some assistance, depending on what illness may be attacking. While leprosy (also called Hansen’s disease) isn’t something we really see too frequently anymore, on the rare occasions when someone does get it, it’s curable today, according to WebMD. However, it was a death sentence in Jesus’ day. As for our immune system, we can boost its effectiveness by making healthy food choices (more fruits and veggies, less sugary snacks), drinking plenty of water each day (see Harvard Health Publishing / Medical School for details), and getting adequate exercise and sleep each day (sleep needs vary with age and circumstances according to Healthline).
Since our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), making healthy choices about what we put in them and how we care for them is another way we can honor God with our health each day. A healthy immune system also extends into the blessing of being able to work for a living so we can enjoy the financial peace of having the bills paid with something left over for enjoying life and preparing for the future.
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4. The Blessing of Hearing
4. The Blessing of Hearing
One of the sweetest sounds to a new mom and dad is when their baby says “mama” or “dada” for the first time. Other sounds that people often enjoy include a babbling brook, their favorite song, a quality concert, and encouraging words from a loved one, to name just a few beautiful sounds. Taking a moment to thank Him when we get the opportunity to hear our favorite song, attend a concert, or simply hear the Word of God spoken at church are simple ways we can honor Him with our hearing. In addition, we can enjoy the loving “sound” of the Lord’s “voice” when we take the time to deepen our relationship with Him and spend time in the Word on a regular basis.
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5. The Blessing of Being Close to Friends and Family
5. The Blessing of Being Close to Friends and Family
The older a person gets, the more they realize the blessing of close friends and family. The reason for that is because some friends move away, toddlers become busy teens who need mom or dad for transportation and support, and eventually, loved ones pass away. In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy released an advisory that addressed a growing “epidemic” of loneliness and isolation. He said people had been reporting to him for several years that they felt, “isolated, invisible and insignificant.”
Murthy went on to specifically discover that about one in two adults in America were experiencing this, and that was prior to Covid. Murthy detailed that loneliness increases a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. In a nutshell, he suggests building a “movement” that helps to facilitate opportunities for people to build meaningful relationships. In this busy age of mobile, electronic pocket distractions, it might take a miracle to build this kind of movement. However, carving out more time to be with the ones with whom the Lord has blessed us is certainly a way to honor both Him and them as the blessings that they are to us. It may require making an appointment in our phone calendar, but God made us to cultivate and nurture meaningful relationships.
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6. The Blessing of Serving the Lord
6. The Blessing of Serving the Lord
It’s written in Matthew 28:19-20 that we’re supposed to “make disciples.” That begins with witnessing. This can be as simple as telling someone our salvation story or encouraging someone with a story about how God has blessed and provided for us, so He will do it for them, too (Romans 2:11). Using the gifts and talents that He has given us to be a blessing to others is one more way that we can honor God with our health every day because we need our health to function in those gifts and talents and be the blessing He has called us to be.
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Originally published April 22, 2025.
