The Journey to Wellness in 2026 A Pastor’s Perspective of A Healthy New Year

“Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,” Philippians 3:19-20 ESV

There has been something God has been speaking to me about our culture of fitness and my personal battles with it. A year ago, after a routine checkup after the holidays, my A1C was high resulting in my doctor wanting to put me on diabetes medication. I asked for time to work on this on my own. She gave me three months to make a difference in my eating and exercise. I changed the way I ate and continued my disciplined workouts. But I also developed a phobia like mindset of returning to foods I enjoyed before as well as my stubborn belly area that I wasn’t thrilled with. 

Diabetes is in my family. My mom was diagnosed in her early adulthood with it and has lived to turning 80 next year. It has been a battle, but she has done well. I am proud of her, and she has not let it affect her active lifestyle. She has set a good example to not allow fear to control a diagnosis. 

With this in my genetics, I had a reason to discipline myself to not go down this road with a lousy diet. My wife will tell you that I can get obsessed with a mission to the point where everyone around me is not having fun either. Did you catch that. No one was having fun. I wasn’t enjoying the journey, and neither were they. Such is the road to a “Diet Culture”.  

According to Christy Harrison, M.P. H., R.D., C.D.N., and author of the book Anti-Diet, it’s a set of beliefs that worships thinness and equates it with health and moral virtue.

Did you catch that as well? It takes the worship of body size and puts it in the category of health and wellbeing. My wife and I on our sabbatical took a “Wellness Cruise”.  That was another name for pay extra to have access to the spa and a restaurant that served healthier food at dinner. There were amenities we enjoyed but we still ate what we wanted during the day at the endless buffets. 

Wellness is often getting sucked into worship, obsession and if not careful, anxiety and fear of the condition of your body. I read an article in Good Housekeeping that shared an interesting fact.  

“The sample size for many designers is 0-2, while a 2018 study by National Health Statistics Reports published by the CDC places the average American adult woman in a size 18-20, and teen girls in a size 12.”

The world, fashion trends and diet gurus market us for billions of dollars. We see them as we scroll. We feel fat and out of shape as we snack on a Christmas cookie. Guilt floods our thoughts and before long, we have made a new year resolution to never look this way again. Check this out. I found it in the same article in Good Housekeeping. 

98% of people who lose weight gain it back over time according to a study at the National Library of Medicine. They ask the question… why do we all think we are in the 2%?  

Now before you think I am telling everyone to buy gift certificates to the Golden Buffet, keep reading. I have been down this rabbit hole. I made significant changes, and I feel better and not as chubby around the belly. But I will not be a body builder, nor do I want to be. I will not look like the Hollywood A listers who have chefs and personal training and great plastic surgeons. I will not be doing my own stunts like Tom Cruise at 60 years old. My focus now is being me and happy with the me I am being! 

I feel God putting this message in me to share with others who are being bombarded by health plans on social media. I know many of you are making great decisions to eat better, work out and make healthy changes. We are doing that as well in our house. However, with all the discipline, do not lose the joy of being you. Get in better shape. Go get that size smaller jean and of course hit the treadmill.  But please hear me. Don’t allow the journey to define your value. Do not let it take away your joy of living. Being skinny is not the goal. Either is a lower A1C. They are both good, but not the goal. The goal is being you. Loved by God, enjoying the journey, doing things you couldn’t do before. Investing into your future. 

We cannot control tomorrow. Anything could happen. But today I can make good choices. Go for a walk because it’s good for me not because I must. If you like to run, enjoy it, don’t endure it. If you are limiting sweets, do it with a smile and motive that doesn’t make you depressed. Find an alternative that makes you happy. 

I end with this… the Apostle Paul said our stomachs are not to be our God. Our bodies are not to control us. The world and its opinions are not what we long for. We do not find our purpose like those who do it all in vain for no spiritual gain. Amen! But don’t lose focus on the mind. Your thoughts! You are loved the way you are. Guilt is not from God. Shame is not the voice of the Holy Spirit. Be healthy in MIND, body and SPIRIT!