How Do I Live My Best Life

Today we see people post on social media the popular hashtag, #livingmybestlife. In fact there are 3.4 million posts on Instagram alone with this hashtag. The pictures that go along with these posts might be people posing in trendy outfits, cute kids with adorable expressions, people doing what they love, people sharing their personal accomplishments, or people being vulnerable about their stories … the list goes on. Living your best life is what we all want because we recognize we only have one life to live. That being said, the truth is we all struggle to know what this best life is and how we can live it every day.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13 NLT)

How was Paul able to write these bold words? Mind you, he wrote them while he was in prison because of his faith in Jesus, to encourage God’s people in Philippi. Clearly, Paul’s best life had nothing to do with his physical circumstances or the possessions he had. His best life had everything to do with what He knew deep in his heart about his God – something intangible, something unshakeable.

In 2012, I went to China for the first time through an organization called, International China Concern, to support and bring aid to the caretakers of an orphanage (aka welfare centre) for children who were abandoned and disabled. While I prayed about how I might be a blessing to them and the kids under their care, I felt I received so much more from my time with them. These kids had, what seemed to me, so little, yet they were joyful and satisfied. Many of them had been abandoned in terrible places because of their disability. However, despite their past, it was clear that God did not forget about them. In His wonderful, mysterious way, He was watching over them and taking care of them. I remember thinking to myself, wow, even when others may forget about us, God never forgets about us. With Him life can be beautiful and joyous, no matter the circumstances.

Once again, Paul wrote, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Jesus Christ was God’s ultimate gift of salvation and love to the whole world. When we put our trust in Jesus, we are no longer separated from our Creator God, but we are brought close, just as we were always intended to live. Paul understood that it is through Christ that we even have access to the God of heaven and earth, and who’s heavenly resources never run dry. Paul understood who was His source of everything he needed – His Father God.

So how do we live our best life? We do this by first recognizing who holds all things and is the source of everything we need. When we put our trust in Him, seeing Him as our source, our best friend, and our ultimate destination, there is a peace and joy that comes that goes beyond our circumstances.