Based on a devotion by Chris Brekke, July 15, 2026 on his blog at:
https://pcbrek2020.wordpress.com
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Conversations often begin with a friendly “Hello,” and then go on to some form of the question “How are you?” or “How goes it?” Unless you are at an appointment with your therapist, you will usually not go into very much depth in your reply. Most likely, you will just say something like “fine” or “pretty good.” Sometimes we are miserable, sometimes we are on cloud nine, usually we are just okay; but we will almost always respond with some variation of “I’m fine.” Let’s take a few minutes to go a little deeper.
The question “How goes it?” can be answered on three distinct levels. Our lives are playing out on three tracks at once: physically, relationally, and spiritually.
Much of human life is physical. We have our bodies, our homes, our jobs, and our hobbies. Hopefully we have good health, a roof overhead, and some money in the bank. We have some favorite foods and places and possessions. We have physical needs that must be met, and, other wishes and wants to enjoy as time, health, and wealth, allow. Our generous Creator God graciously showers us with many blessings– our days and years, our opportunities, and our goods. Psalm 145:16 says, “You open Your hand, and You satisfy the desire of every living thing.” On one level, we might respond to the question of “How goes it?” by saying, “It is going well. I am enjoying all of what God has given me.” Or, for some reason, for some of you, perhaps not.
There is more to life that just the physical and material. We are also relational creatures. It’s not enough to have food and clothing. We are designed to be in relationships, and we do best in families and with friends and associates. Genesis 2:18 says, “It is not good for the man to be alone,” and Matthew 4:4 says, “Man does not live on bread alone.” People need people; and even those who think they don’t, still have to share the world with others. So, “How goes it?” with your relationships? As you know, your fellow-humans can be the best part of life, and, can be the worst. We can be really good to each other, or, really bad. The Lord tries to help us with this. His central and repeated command is “Love one another” (John 13:34), and, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). The Bible is filled with wise words on how to make our relationships go well.
The third level of our existence is the spiritual. Augustine prayed, “My heart is restless, O Lord, unless I rest in you.” We are made by God and made for a relationship with God. “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” isn’t just a good old song to sing in church once in a while. We need that relationship with Jesus. That spiritual part of life is our deepest need, and only that will satisfy our most intense longings, whether we realize it or not. The physical aspect of life is temporary. All of God’s earthly blessing, as wonderful as they are, will fade away. And all our earthly relationships will end in death. But the spiritual part of life is eternal. Give good attention to your inner life and your connection with the Lord. He will see you through, regardless of how the physical and the relational are going.
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When the early Methodists were forming congregations on the American frontier, they would be visited only occasionally by circuit riding pastors. But even if a pastor was not present, they would meet for weekly small group gatherings (‘class meetings,’ as they were called). Here they were given the opportunity to discuss ‘how it was going’ with their faith and their walk with Jesus. Following the pattern set by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism in England, there was a series of questions they would ask of each other. These questions were designed for them to be accountable to each other for their obedience to God’s commandments, to encourage each other in their faith, and, to comfort each other in their trials, temptations, and tribulations.
“How doth thy soul prosper?” is one of the questions they would ask; or as we might say today, “How is it going with your soul?” William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, had a similar list of questions for self-examination. “How is it between you and Jesus?” they would ask.
These are good questions to ask of ourselves and each other.
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II Corinthians 13:5a — Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.
Lamentations 3:40 — Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord.
III John v. 2 – Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
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I examine my heart, O God, and I see a jumbled mass of motives. One moment I am adoring you, and the next I am shaking my fist at you. I vacillate between mounting hope, and deepening despair. I am full of faith, and full of doubt. I want the best for others, and am jealous when they get it. Even so, God, I will not turn from your presence. Nor will I pretend to be what I am not. Thank you for accepting me with all my contradictions. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
–Richard J. Foster (1942- ) Quaker theologian and author.
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