How Is It With Your Soul?

“How is it with your soul?”

John Wesley began every small group with that question. He believed that if followers of Jesus were going to glorify God and truly impact their world, they needed healthy souls. So, his bands were committed to asking one another the kind of honest, searching questions that lead to real transformation.

But let’s be honest—this isn’t a question we typically ask each other. And even if we did, many of us wouldn’t quite know how to answer it. We believe we have a soul. Scripture speaks of it, and Jesus refers to it. Yet we’re often left wondering:

Jesus made the importance of soul care unmistakably clear: “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Matthew 16:26)

That question has stayed with me. Recently, I found myself asking: Doug, how do you know when your soul is in a good place? The truth is that your soul can be well even when life stinks. I wanted something that worked in both the best and the hardest seasons.

I landed on four simple gauges:

Delight
Am I enjoying God? Am I finding my deepest joy in Him?
If I’m honest, my delight can drift—to an upcoming trip, ministry success, a comfortable lifestyle, and the like. But my soul is healthy when I can honestly say, “My greatest joy is in God and the life He offers” (John 17:3).

Trust
Am I trusting God’s care and provision?
Sometimes I can feel it physically—tight shoulders, churning stomach, snack trips to the kitchen. These are often signs that anxiety has crept in. Trust means that, even in the presence of fear, my confidence in God is greater. It allows me to rest in Him—and to dream His dreams.

Purity
Is my inner life free from the contamination of sin?
For me, this means paying close attention to things like jealousy, conceit, lust, and greed. These aren’t just independent, external behaviors—they have roots in my soul. It also means examining my relationships and asking where I may have wronged others, especially my wife. A healthy soul is an honest one.

Gratitude
Am I thankful for what God has given me?
Gratitude settles me. Instead of living in the past, or worrying about the future, I want to be thankful for what God has graciously given to me, right here, right now. Considering that every good gift comes from God, how can I not overflow with thanksgiving (James 1:17, Psalm 103:1)

These gauges help me pay attention. When one of them slips into the “danger zone,” it’s a signal—not for guilt, but for recalibration. That usually means naming what’s off, confessing it honestly, and inviting the Holy Spirit to do His deep work in this area of my life.

What about you? What gauges will help you tend to your soul?

I’m deeply grateful that Soul Care - Leader Health - continues to be a priority as Aspire moves forward. This isn’t optional. It’s essential for authentic Christian living and critical for healthy, sustainable leadership.

As John Ortberg wisely writes, “Your soul is the spring, and you are the keeper of that spring.” You can’t delegate that responsibility. And you can’t afford to neglect it.

How is it with your soul?