Flourishing

The word ‘flourishing’ has been on my mind a lot recently. What does it mean to grow, bloom, be rooted, find peace and wholeness, a rhythm to life? We all go in seasons where we might say, “Life feels great — I feel like I’m flourishing!” And we all have seasons where we scoff at the word ‘flourishing’ because life is actually chaos; there seems no rhythm or order, and we certainly don’t feel like we’re growing or resting. I’ve laughed out loud when talking to God about flourishing … because there are seasons in which it just doesn’t feel like it’s happening. Can you relate?!

As I’ve prayed over this word, as I’ve laughed with God about it, He continues to illuminate for me that ‘flourishing’ is not an achievement. (Can you hear the recovering perfectionist/striver who needs to release that flourishing is. not. an. achievement.) It’s not reaching some end goal. It’s not feeling like my ducks are in a row. It’s not finding a rhythm to parenting children who change daily. Rather, flourishing is being wholeheartedly invested in what I’m doing right now – and deeply being present. Feeling the joy, hope, grief, struggle, and anything else that comes along with today.

It’s a very humbling thing to realize I don’t control when my body gets sick and when it doesn’t. I don’t control when my kids sleep or don’t. I don’t control what people at work do or don’t do. I don’t control the weather. Truly — the small life things get overwhelming quickly. So … we scoff at flourishing. We laugh and say, “Maybe someday …”

And yet, Jesus promises full and abundant life now (John 10:10). He promises to be the place where we can rest, renew, restore, and reprieve. He promises to do the work in us that leads to flourishing. My job? Show up with a willing heart that yearns to deeply feel — and then let God be God. Let the flourishing come when I’m sick and can’t do anything else. Let the flourishing, rootedness, and new experiences start as I pack up our home and think of what’s to come and what I leave behind. Let me enjoy the hardest moments of parenting because they’re just that — moments.

Let us stop idealizing the ‘right way’ to flourish. You showing up today is exactly what you’ve been asked to do. Do it with a heart full of gratitude for the air in your lungs, the day ahead, and the work that God will always be doing in you … if we’d just let Him. May you find freedom in letting go of ‘achieving’ flourishing and rather find rest in a God who is always showing up to do this work in you … and let Him.