Since encountering the word flourish in this research over a year ago, the term has repeatedly appeared, almost daily, in my life since; and as I described in the blog post What’s Your Word, the word is becoming foundational to my writing and study. During this same time frame, I have continued to listen to the podcasts of Fresh Life Church in Montana and experienced delight when it was announced that Jennie Lusko was publishing a new book entitled The Fight to Flourish. Immediately, the book was purchased and read.

What Lusko reveals in her book mirrors my own findings during this pilgrimage to discover what comprises a flourishing life, and this revelation is that the journey will definitely include struggles, and those battles may require us to place our Armor On in acceptance that moments will arrive when we are Face Down in the Arena. Choosing to follow Christ does not equate to a smooth and easy road, as some people opt to believe, but rather the choice we make equips us to Fight to Flourish while developing a Habit of Resilience which allows us to persevere in our efforts to thrive with God by our side.

Lusko approaches the flourishing plight from the perspective of a seed growing into the plant God created it to be, and “a fight ‘breaks out’ when the seed hits the soil. It’s not just go time; it’s grow time. And that means it’s time to fight.” She desires for us to see that all of us “can fight, that you can grow, that you can be fruitful, and that you can flourish…it’s the embracing of the fight that will create the space to flourish.” One of the important themes from Lusko and one that is threaded through the Habits of a Flourishing life, is the idea that “True flourishing comes from embracing the difficulty of the growth. And we can’t do that in our own strength. God doesn’t call us to flourish, then pat us on the back, and ditch us.”

Emphasizing the concept that we do not travel on this journey alone, Lusko reminds us that if we are serving our Lord and Savior, he walks with us side-by-side; he hasn’t ditched us to face this world on our own. And one of the relevant reminders Lusko provides is that we “don’t have to pull [ourself] together to run to Him…When we’re shoved into a storm, it can be easy to flounder,” but He does not waver and for followers of Christ, “the flourishing life is all about being faithful with the small things and watching God handle the impossible…So often when we endure pain, we want to run from the very One who designed us, knows us, and has a plan for our lives. But God wants us to run to Him…What I’m trying to help you see is that God intends for you to become the most fruitful, most vibrant, and most-like-Jesus version of you that you were born to be.”

So much of what Lusko shares in her Fight to Flourish is so perfectly stated that I dare not attempt to rephrase the words the Lord provided to her, so I continue to quote, “You are the only one who can make that you’re going to fight to flourish. No one else can choose it for you. And the good news is you will win this match, because Jesus already won the war. All you have to do is fight today. One day at a time. One punch at a time.” Providing encouragement to stick to the plan of trusting God, rather than relying on unpredictable feelings, Lusko shares, “If He changes things up, we continue to stick to the plan of trusting and obeying Him, no matter how we feel…When we stick to the plan of trusting God, He can help us change our hearts, even when our emotions try to take us in the opposite direction.”

I cannot fathom the deep pain that the Luskos experienced when they mourned the loss of Lenya, their second-born daughter, but we can learn from their faithfulness to stick to God’s plan and witness how they fought to flourish with grit and perseverance. I will end with one last quote from Jennie, “Whatever fight you might be in today, know that you have the word flourish written all over you and your future.”

In what areas is God perhaps speaking to you and asking you to Fight to Flourish? Please feel free to share in the comments below.

Reference:

Lusko, J. (2020). The fight to flourish: Engaging in the struggle to cultivate the life you were born to live. Zondervan.