Faith Lens: Flourishing Together

Faith Lens is a weekly Bible study that engages youth and young adults in connecting world events with the Bible, faith, and everyday life.

Catalyst Question

Who are the most helpful people in your life? What makes them so helpful for you?

Flourishing Together

Recently, Baylor University researchers released initial results from a new study on human flourishing. This global research follows hundreds of thousands of people in hopes of understanding what factors lead to a “good life.” That’s how the researchers understand flourishing. More than personal happiness or security, flourishing is a kind of holistic satisfaction. More than just feeling happy in the moment, to flourish is to feel like you’re thriving in most, if not all, areas of life.

The results were surprising in a number of ways. Younger people are less likely to be currently flourishing than older people. Wealth isn’t necessarily tied to flourishing. And regular participation in a faith community throughout your life is more likely to lead to flourishing.

It’s this third finding that is most relevant today. That’s because flourishing is tied to presence: presence with God and presence with others. In John 14:23-29, Jesus tells his disciples that he’s leaving, but he’s not leaving them alone. As he ascends into heaven, the Holy Spirit inhabits people of faith. This means that God is not only with us, but within us, to help us live abundant life for all of our days. Long before a modern research study, God knew that we were most likely to flourish if we weren’t on our own.

There’s much more to learn from that study, especially as we support young people in faith communities. This includes, in part, taking the cue to continue gathering with God and with one another, wisdom that comes both from ancient scriptures and current data. It also includes paying more attention to the young people in our lives, even if you are a young person yourself. Especially in our world, where money seems to rule the day, it means reassessing our relationship to wealth.

Thankfully, as John’s Gospel reminds us, we don’t have to do any of that on our own. After all, the Holy Spirit lives within each of us as a helper that wants us to flourish, individually and collectively. We don’t thrive alone. We thrive together. Let’s continue to gather together to remind ourselves that God is not just for us, and not even just with us, but an inherent part of our lives.

Ask Yourself

What kind of help do I need to flourish? Name at least two different ways someone might help you.

Ask a Friend

What are the best ways to notice God’s presence in your life? Name three or more.