More Than a Number: What "Health" Really Means and Why It Matters

Published on Oct. 6, 2025 written By Nombulelo Chakanyuka

For many of us, it has become synonymous with a number on a scale, the size of our jeans, or the results of a blood test. And while those things can be indicators, they are not the whole story.

I have been thinking a lot about this lately, and it is exactly why I have chosen to focus on health as an essential part of our lives. Because we have lost the plot. We have traded a vibrant, whole-life picture of wellness for a narrow, often frustrating, set of metrics.

So, let us redefine it.

What Is Health, really?

True health is not just the absence of illness. It is the presence of vitality. It is the God-given capacity to live fully and serve effectively. Think of it as a sacred harmony between several key areas:

1. The Physical: This is the most familiar one—our bodies. It is about energy, strength, and resilience. It is nourishing ourselves with good food,moving in ways we enjoy, and getting rest. But it is not about achieving a perfect "beach body." It is about stewarding the physical vessel we have been given with respect and gratitude.
2. The Mental & Emotional: A healthy mind is one that can navigate life’s stresses without breaking. It is the ability to feel a full range of emotions—joy, sadness, anger—without being controlled by them. It is cultivating peace, practicing gratitude, and guarding our minds against toxic thought patterns.
3. The Spiritual: This is the bedrock. It is our connection to God, our sense of purpose, and our understanding that our worth is not defined by our productivity or appearance. When our spirit is well, we are rooted. We can face physical or emotional challenges without our entire world collapsing because our foundation is secure.

These three are not separate. They are deeply intertwined. Have you ever noticed that when you are spiritually drained, you have less patience (emotional) and feel more tired (physical)? Or that when you are chronically stressed (emotional), your body gets sick (physical)? Health is the beautiful, complex dance between all these parts of ourselves.

Why I Chose to Focus on Health

I chose health because I believe it is one of the most fundamental ways, we can honour God.

The Bible says, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you...? Therefore, honour God with your bodies" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

This is not a command to pursue a six-pack. It is a call to stewardship. Just as we are called to be good stewards of our finances and our time, we are called to be good stewards of our bodies, our minds, and our emotions.

When we are burned out, chronically stressed, or physically depleted, we have less to give. Our capacity for patience, creativity, and generosity shrinks. We become so focused on our own fatigue that we miss the needs of those around us.

But when we are healthy—when we are rested, nourished, and spiritually connected—we become conduits of God’s love and power. We have the energy to play with our kids, the patience to listen to a friend, the clarity to do our work with excellence, and the resilience to face life’s challenges.

I chose health because it is not a selfish pursuit. It is a preparatory one.

It is about tuning our instrument so we can play the song we were created to play. It is about filling our lamp with oil so we can be a light to others. It is about building a strong, resilient vessel so we can weather any storm and be a safe harbour for someone else.

So, let us move beyond the numbers. Let us stop chasing a narrow ideal and start pursuing a vibrant, holistic wellness that allows us to live and love to the fullest.

Your health is not a luxury. It is a legacy. And it is worth investing in.