When It Comes to Life, You're More Than Okay

More Than Okay Series — Part 4

Life can feel hard.

You may know that better than anyone.

Some days you're not just living—you're surviving. Getting through. Holding on.

Some days you wonder if this is all there is. If it will always feel this heavy.

And yet, underneath it all, there's something you might be missing. Something we all miss.

What's the one thing we probably take for granted every single day of our lives?

I think it's the fact that we're alive and that we are living.

You woke up this morning.

Your heart is beating.

Your lungs are breathing.

You're here.

What a gift. What a miracle.

And do we even notice?

Perhaps you didn't have to be here. Perhaps none of us did.

But here we are.

In life.

I know life can be hard. Jesus knew it better than anyone when he said:

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
— John 16:33

Even when you're in the throes of depression.

Even when you're in trouble or feel troubled.

Even when your heart is breaking.

Whatever it may be.

At its core, you're still in life.

You're alive and living.

And no matter what, you're being held through it all.

You're held in life.

You're held in and with love.

“Underneath are the everlasting arms.”
— Deuteronomy 33:27

God is Emmanuel—God with us.

Not as a taskmaster.
Not as surveillance.
Not as a disappointed parent shaking his head.

But as loving presence.

Comforting you.
Nurturing you.
Loving you.

And here's something that might blow your mind:

God is even living you.

His life is in you. And he, through life itself, is living you.

Whoa.

The breath you're breathing right now—that's not just automatic biology.

The blood circulating through your veins.

The cells doing their miraculous work.

That's not just your body doing its thing.

That's God in you, living you and breathing you and life-ing you.

The same divine intelligence and power that's within monarch butterflies that helps them migrate to a certain spot in Mexico…

The same power in an acorn that turns it into an oak…

The same power that makes the seasons change…

The same power that holds the stars in place…

That same power is in you, living you and life-ing you now.

It's amazing when you stop to think about it, isn't it?

And even when your body isn't how you'd like it to be—here's the truth:

You're not your body.

You're the one who is aware that you have one.

That awareness is your essence. It's you.

And it's always more than okay, no matter what condition your body is in.

“In him we live and move and have our being.”
— Acts 17:28

We live in God.

Our life is in God.

Our essence, our soul, our spirit is living in and through God.

And his Spirit is living in us and through us.

He is the Paraclete—the one who walks alongside us, guiding and leading us.

And because of that, it's all more than okay.

The Gift of Life Now

What a gift life is—now.

Right now. In this moment.

But here's the problem:

We don't live our lives “now.”

We live them “there” and “then.”

In the past, replaying our regrets.

In the future, rehearsing our worries.

We miss the moment of life.

And the next one.

And the next one.

And the next one.

Let's do a quick experiment.

Imagine you lost the ability to think about the past or the future for just a few minutes.

Don't worry—you can pick that all up later.

But right now, you've lost the ability to regret the past or worry about anything in the future.

Without that ability, reading this right here and right now, in this moment—you'd be fine.

You'd even feel fine.

You'd be okay.

Maybe even more than okay.

That's because you are fine.

Right here in this moment, without a lot on your mind, you're more than okay.

When you live in this moment—right here and right now—you live more and more in the feeling of being more than okay.

The Gift of Life Then

And what a gift life is “then.”

Then?

Yes.

In eternity.

In heaven.

After we die.

Wait.

Brace yourself:

There is no death.

There is only life after life.

As it's read in the Catholic funeral tradition:

“Life is not ended, merely changed.”

We go from life to life.

What a hope we have.

We're not made to be here forever.

But we are here now.

And there is so much to be learned and enjoyed.

Life is meant to be enjoyed.

Life is meant to be lived and enjoyed now—and it can be.

What could be greater proof of God than life itself and the gift of it?

That anything is even here at all.

That you are here at all.

Every moment is a key moment.

And life itself is grace.

You didn't have to be here, but you are.

What a gift to experience it all.

The gift of life in this life—to be noticed, enjoyed, cherished, and lived.

And the joy of life after life that awaits.

For there is no death.

Life continues.

And all shall be well.

When it comes to life—even when it's hard, even when it hurts—

You're more than okay.

Reflection question

When you pause and notice that you are simply alive right now, how does that change the way you feel about your life?

This reflection is part of the More Than Okay series — you can follow the journey below.