The living stones 

Self-care and well being may seem like a modern fad - but is something so vital - and actually is not so modern - God himself built rest into the very fabric of creation and Jesus took time away from the crowds.  

Younger generations are increasingly prioritising wellness, with nearly 30% reporting higher focus on it compared to previous years, largely driven by burnout. 

In fact, recent studies suggest that over 40% of the global workforce reports feeling burned out, a statistic that I think highlights a spiritual vacuum in our fast-paced world.

Maybe the pressures of life can squeeze out patterns of self care and wellbeing - it fights against finding wholeness. 

When we think of self-care and wellbeing we might think of bubble bath, a day off, or a new hobby, ways of having a work life balance. 

We often treat rest as a reward for finished work, but in the creation story, the Sabbath was the first full day humanity experienced. We began our existence in rest, not in labour. When we ignore this, we aren't just tired; we are vibrating out of sync with our Creator.

Today’s Bible readings point toward wholeness as not just the absence of stress, but the presence of an inner integrity gained from intimacy with our God that holds us together when the world tries to pull us apart.

From the stoning of Stephen in Acts to the "Living Stones" of Peter’s letter, and finally to the "Many Mansions" of John’s Gospel, we see a blueprint for a life that is integrated, secure, and whole. As we move through the passages my prayer is that we reflect on our own wholeness as individuals and as the church. 

Life is not sanitised - and neither is the Bible and our Acts reading is one of the most violent scenes in the New Testament: the martyrdom of Stephen.

It seems an odd place to start a sermon on well-being.

However, Stephen exhibits a level of internal wholeness that is breathtaking.

As the crowd is "grinding their teeth" in rage, the text says Stephen is "full of the Holy Spirit." 

Stephen doesn't look at the stones or the angry faces. He gazes into heaven. 

Well-being, in a biblical sense, begins with where we fix our eyes. If our sense of self is tied to our circumstances, that will fluctuate but if it’s tied to who we are in God that can never be taken away.

Stephen knew through Jesus death and resurrection that he was a child of God.

He knew his identity and he lived it out in wholeness

His final words—"Lord, do not hold this sin against them"—are the ultimate sign of a whole heart. 

Unforgiveness is like an open wound that refuses to heal; it drains our vitality. 

Psychologists often note that chronic bitterness keeps our bodies in a state of "fight or flight," flooding us with cortisol. By forgiving, Stephen wasn't just being "pious"; he was maintaining his spiritual health even as his body failed. 

Stephen’s wholeness allowed him to die without bitterness, what a radical form of spiritual health. He was ready to meet his maker, his Lord and Saviour.

Our Psalm provides the emotional language for what Stephen experienced. 

"Into your hands I commit my spirit." 

True well-being is found when we find a "rock of refuge." 

We spend so much energy trying to build our own safety—financial safety, social safety, physical safety. Let’s build our spiritual safety. The Psalm reminds us:

Firstly that to Surrender is Strength. Letting go of the need to control every outcome is the first step toward mental and spiritual peace.

And secondly our psalm reminds us that to be seen by The "Face" of God is the ultimate validation. We don’t need validation from what we do or how others see us. God validates us because he sees us.

Last week I talked about Jesus calling us by name and this builds on that as God truly seeing us as we are, because of what Jesus had done for the whole world.

Jesus as our shepherd calls us by name into his sheepfold, being part of a sheepfold leads me to the conclusion that wholeness isn’t achieved solo it comes from being part of a community of believers and our epistle builds on this idea 

Peter calls us "living stones" being built into a spiritual house.

Think about the nature of a stone in a building. It has rough edges. It has to be shaped to fit alongside the stones next to it. 

Sometimes, our "un-wellness" comes from the friction of being in community—the difficult conversations, the need for patience, the act of serving someone we don't naturally like. 

But it is exactly this "shaping" that makes us whole. A single stone lying in a field is just a rock. It is subject to the elements, easily moved, and eventually forgotten. But a stone built into a wall has a purpose; it shares the weight of the roof with its neighbour

Many of us feel unwell because we feel "un-placed." We lack a sense of belonging or contribution. Yet being part of a church community gives us purpose as we serve God and the wider community.

Peter in his letter  reminds a group of marginalized people that they are a "chosen people, a royal priesthood." Well-being is rooted in identity as we touched on from our Acts reading. 

When you know who you are—and whose you are—the opinions of the world lose their power to crush you.

And finally, we turn to the words of Jesus. The disciples are anxious. Their world is about to end. Jesus gives them the ultimate prescription for a troubled heart:

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me."

I often use this passage in my funeral sermons where Jesus speaks of "many dwelling places." But maybe this isn't just about a mansion in the sky after we die; maybe it’s also about the reality that there is room for us in the heart of God right now.

The Greek word for "dwelling places" is monai, which implies a place of staying, a lodging, a home. Jesus is telling us that we don't have to wander anymore. We aren't spiritual nomads searching for a place to fit in. We have a reserved space.

Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." He doesn't just show the way; he is the way. Wholeness comes from following a Person, not just a set of rules. When our "Way" (actions), our "Truth" (beliefs), and our "Life" (vitality) are all aligned in Christ, we find the peace that passes understanding.

Wholeness and well-being are not about having a perfect life. They are about having a centered life.

Like Stephen, may we have the vision to see beyond our crises.

Like the Psalmist, we have the courage to entrust our spirits to the Father.

Like the Living Stones, may we find our place in the family of God.

And like Jesus, may we walk the path that leads home.

Take a deep breath. You are chosen. You are being built into something beautiful. You belong and have a home in the family of God. 

Amen.