All of you must keep awake (give strict attention, be cautious and active) and watch and pray, that you may not come into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Matthew 26:41 AMPC

There are a lot of scriptures in the Bible about our “flesh,” which refers to the human body and its physical needs and desires. Our human flesh is limited; Jesus called it “weak.” Even with all the willpower in the world, sometimes our bodies just don’t do what we want them to do. 

This is something you realize when you develop chronic health challenges.

I didn’t think much about my physical health when I was younger. But in my mid-thirties, I developed Hashimoto’s disease, which is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid gland. Suddenly I began experiencing fatigue, brain fog, mood swings, insomnia, weight gain, and muscle and joint pain.

I was so discouraged. All I could see were my limitations.

But over the years, God has taught me to see my health differently. What seemed like a weakness has helped me get stronger in my spirit, like the Bible describes in 2 Corinthians 12:

…So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. [8] Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. [9] Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. [10] That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NLT

Having a chronic health condition has pushed me to slow down and take care of my physical body through exercise, sleep, pacing myself, and eating right. It has humbled me, making me rely more on God and my friends rather than running around and doing things myself. It’s taught me to turn to God instead of chasing people’s approval, achievements, or defining my worth by how much I get done—or by how I compare to others. When I allow them to, these changes in my daily routine lead to a healthier and more peaceful heart.

We all have physical limitations, whether or not we’ve been given a diagnosis. Being human means our bodies need rest, movement, and nourishment to function well and keep showing up. I resisted this for years, and I wish I hadn’t. If I had learned to think spiritually about my body earlier and changed my perspective sooner, I would have been more present and better able to give my best in all areas of my life.

If you, like me, struggle to take care of your body, or if you are looking for a spiritual perspective on physical health, you’ve come to the right place. 

In this Bible study, we’ll look at why our health matters to God, what mindset we should have as we approach our health, and how to handle our health spiritually. 

Why does our physical health matter to God?

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. [30] And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ [31] The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Mark 12:29-31 NLT

God cares about every aspect of our lives—heart, soul, mind, and strength. These parts of ourselves are interconnected; each one affects the other. 

Our “strength” is our physical body. When our physical health is neglected, it will affect our mind (thoughts), heart (emotions), and spirit (soul). 

For example, studies show that a lack of sleep affects our thought life, making it more difficult for us to stop unwanted thoughts. These unwanted thoughts affect our emotions, making us feel sad, stressed, or guilty. These feelings can affect our spirit by making us want to distance ourselves from God (Genesis 3:8-11, Mark 4:18-19).

Our physical health and our spiritual health are inextricably connected, which is why God cares about both, and why we should too. 

How does God help me with my physical health?

Ultimately, a strong body that can endure pain and sickness comes from having a strong spirit. And that’s where God comes in. 

A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?

Proverbs 18:14 ESV

Even the best diet and exercise routine can’t give us an enduring spirit. God gives us an enduring spirit by changing what we value. 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. [2] Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:1-2 NIV

God wants us to give our bodies to him as a grateful, living sacrifice—offering ourselves to him for his service. But we do this by changing the way we think about what’s important. Let’s look at some ways that God helps our physical bodies by breaking unhealthy patterns:

1. The pattern of pride: When we adopt the world’s perspective on productivity and what we should value most, we end up running around, thinking that being busy means we’re being productive. We wear ourselves out instead of living with pace and focus—often relying on caffeine, fast food, and very little exercise. God teaches us how to balance our lives (Ecclesiastes 7:18 VOICE).
2. The pattern of pleasure: One pervasive emotion in the world around us is the fear of missing out, often fueled by social media. Watching other people get things makes us constantly want more for ourselves (1 John 2:15 MSG). Unfortunately, this will leave us exhausted and empty and lead to a pattern of pleasure-seeking—overindulging in things like food or sleep just to numb out and escape.
3. The pattern of physical deprivation: Another worldly pattern is wearing our tiredness and lack of sleep like a badge of honor. A life built on harsh treatment of our bodies might seem disciplined and wise, but in the end, it’s not (Colossians 2:20-23). Sometimes we set strict rules for dieting and exercise and even convince others we’re very health-conscious—but these surface-level rules don’t actually address the deeper issues behind them.

God helps us break these patterns and discover a good, pleasing, and perfect life by helping us value the right things.  

Jesus (to the Pharisees): You’ve made your choice. Your ambition is to look good in front of other people, not God. But God sees through to your hearts. He values things differently from you. The goals you and your peers are reaching for God detests.

Luke 16:15 Voice

When we walk with God, he teaches us to value our relationship with him and our ability to love others more than anything else. Our patterns change, and so do our health habits. We develop new patterns, like these:

1. The pattern of humility: We slow down (but we don’t stop loving God and others). We live with purpose, focusing on what matters most. We value God and respect the contributions of others because we don’t have to do it all to prove our worth. We ask for help, which allows time for rest, pacing, and taking care of ourselves  (Psalm 131, Philippians 2:3-4). 
2. The pattern of faith: When we live by faith, we don’t make decisions driven by anxiety and fear. Instead of chasing every pleasure we see in the moment, we look ahead and recognize the value of self-control (Hebrews 11:24-27). 
3. The pattern of love: Jesus’s pattern of love is different from what the world often calls “self-care” or “self-love.” His way is rooted in faith and purpose—so we can live a full life (John 10:10). When we take care of ourselves, it’s not about self-centeredness—it’s so we can live out our God-given purpose with vitality, clarity, and love.

What can I do to be physically and spiritually strong?

Let’s read a story about Naaman, a man in the Bible who had a physical ailment and wanted healing:

Naaman’s master considered him an extraordinary man. He was the military commander of Aram’s army, and he had won many important battles for Aram by the power of the Eternal. Naturally he was greatly esteemed by his king. Naaman was a fierce warrior, but he also had a skin disease. 

2 Kings 5:1 Voice

Naaman sought healing for his skin disease from Elisha, who was a prophet of God. But Elisha’s response wasn’t what Naaman expected:

[10] Elisha did not show his face to Naaman, but instead sent instructions: “Wash yourself in the Jordan River seven times. The waters will heal you, and your skin will be back to normal. You will be cleansed.” [11] Naaman boiled with anger as he left Elisha. He had come to his house expecting something much different. 

Naaman: What is this! I came here thinking that Elisha would come outside and call upon the name of the Eternal One his God, and that Elisha’s hand would pass over my sores and heal my skin disease, not the waters of the Jordan River. 

[13] Later his servants approached and spoke to him with respect. Naaman’s Servants: Father, if the prophet had told you to do some important thing, wouldn’t you have done what he asked? Why is it difficult for you to follow his instructions when he tells you, “Bathe yourself in the Jordan River, and be cleansed”? [14] So Naaman swallowed his pride, walked down to the Jordan River, and washed himself seven times, just as the man of God had instructed him to do. There, the miracle occurred. Naaman’s disease was healed: his skin was as new as an infant’s, and he was clean from the disease.

2 Kings 5:10-11,13-14 Voice

We learn from Naaman’s story that sometimes the most powerful things we can do are the simplest things. Our pride can make things complicated. When it comes to taking care of our physical health, simple things are powerful. Let’s have that heart as we tackle four very simple areas of our physical health that will help all of us—whether we’re young, old, chronically ill, or anywhere in between. 

1. Get moving.

Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.

1 Timothy 4:8 NLT

Consistent exercise benefits our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. To be emotionally present, mentally clear, and spiritually prepared, exercise must be a priority.

But I want to be honest—I hate exercising. In the past, I did it mostly for weight loss or vanity, not for health. But having Hashimoto’s has taught me that moving, especially walking, is essential for my health, even if it doesn’t change my weight or how my clothes fit.

Exercise is no longer optional; I have to do it or I won’t have energy. This has been a blessing in disguise because, as the Bible says, physical training is good.

I’m still learning how to manage my health, and it’s hard for me to be consistent. I often go through this cycle: 

I start a new exercise routine, then quit. I start feeling pain, and have to pick myself back up and start over…again and again. 

From my conversations with many friends, I know that this is a common experience, and it can make us feel guilty or ashamed. But rather than letting our guilt weigh us down, we can talk about it and ask for help. A lot of our friends probably need help exercising regularly too, and would be happy to join us. 

Since exercise isn’t my favorite free-time activity, I’ve found ways to enjoy it by involving friends and family. Last year, I walked 5K races with my teenage daughter, which was a wonderful experience. I also invited friends to join me on my favorite trail, and we shared great conversations and laughter as we walked.

Exercise became a catalyst for meaningful connection with others—which greatly helped both my spiritual life and theirs. The goal of exercise isn’t just physical activity; it’s a healthy and happy spirit. 

2. Hit the kitchen.

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, [20] for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT 

God sees our body as a temple. He wants us to take care of it, feed it, nurture it. This doesn’t have to be self-indulgent, though. We are meant to take care of our bodies with food, but not worship our bodies. “Worshipping” our bodies in regards to food can look like three things: we overindulge and feed it too much, we underfeed it to keep a certain body image, or we only feed it junk food — what feels good in the moment. 

If any of the three ways of worshipping our bodies feels hard to overcome, it can be an opportunity to ask for help. When I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, I had to change not just what I ate, but how I thought about food. That wasn’t easy. My friends helped a lot—one even came over and showed me how to make vegan baked goods (because baked goods are my weakness) and anti-inflammatory meals.

How we handle our health and diet can either isolate us or bring us closer to people. Struggles with food and nutrition can open the door to connection and learning from those who are strong in this area. Instead of getting stuck in shame and discouragement—especially after a stretch of unhealthy eating or avoiding exercise—we can be honest, ask for support, and let others help keep us on track.

Taking care of ourselves can be hard, but God can turn limitations into great blessings. It has been so much fun to have my friends over to cook together, but that never would have happened if I didn’t admit my need for help. 

3. Value your sleep.

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.

Psalm 3:5 BSB

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.

Psalm 4:8 NLT

Regular sleep isn’t laziness—it’s necessary. God cares about us getting the rest we need. He wants us to be restored, at peace, and content. Sleep affects every part of our health and is essential for living the full life God has planned for us. 

That’s why we have to manage our time well and prioritize the rest and peace he wants for us. Simple habits—like keeping the phone away from the bed, reading or doing a relaxing activity instead of watching TV at night, and sticking to a regular sleep and wake time—can make a big difference.

4. Pace yourself.

And yet, “Better to have one handful with quietness than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the wind.”

Ecclesiastes 4:6 NLT

Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. [2] It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

Psalm 127:1-2 NLT

Each of these scriptures helps us understand that no matter how much work we have, no matter how much fun there is out there, no matter what other people are doing, we need to pace our lives in a way where we don’t get run down. Unless we get strength from God, our work does no good. It is better to live peacefully and quietly than to work hard and end up exhausted, burned out, and unable to be present for God, our friends, or our family.  

One way we can respond to what God does in our lives is by letting in the influence of spiritual friendships. The way we think about our schedule isn’t the only way to think. Asking friends for advice on our schedule and plans will give us the clarity we need. We don’t always realize that there might be another way of doing things that allows us to pace ourselves better. We need each other to live a healthy, happy, and full life. None of us were meant to do it alone—we all need support to stay healthy and grow in our walk with God through every stage of life.

Questions for reflection

• What worldly thinking or patterns do you see in your approach to your physical health?
• How do you think God might be trying to change the way you think about your physical health? 
• What could you change about your physical habits to be happier, healthier, and have more endurance? 

Next steps 

Something that affects our health a lot is how we handle stress. Handling stress well is a key component of taking care of your health. Watch this video and read this article to learn more about how stress affects your body and what you can do to manage it well.

• How stress affects your body – Sharon Horesh Bergquist
• Developing Resilience: How to Make Stress Your Friend