The shortest month of the year was a stressful month for me. The deadlines dotted across my calendar felt like boulders stacked across my shoulders. Just as I tried to adjust, sickness came and brought all my striving to a halt (thankfully, I’m much better now). 

But my involuntary slow down brought a stress-relieving gift. In the middle of the Lenten season, my soul centered on the goodness of God. Maybe you need a reminder of His goodness, too. We live in a world where worries refuse to fade, and dreams dare us to find them. No wonder life can feel heavy at times. But there is another side to the feeling.

For every worry, there is an invitation to release it to God. (Philippians 4:6)

For every dream that seems delayed, there is a plan that can’t be denied. (Proverbs 16:9)

And yet, my willingness to embrace these realities remind me there is much to love about life. This is not to say we shouldn’t give voice to our concerns, hurts, and frustrations. But if we view life as a gift, we should also give voice to our gratitude. Here is a principle to help us.

“The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper” (Proverbs‬ ‭19:8‬ ‭NIV‬).

Proverbs is an Old Testament’s book of poetry and a record of wise sayings. It was written during the time of King Solomon’s reign. When God gave the king the opportunity to ask for whatever he wanted, the king asked for wisdom. (1 Kings 3:3-12)

But prosperity is not just limited to financial success. The Message Bible paraphrase of Proverbs 19:8 says, “‭Grow a wise heart—you’ll do yourself a favor; keep a clear head—you’ll find a good life.”

This month, I did myself a favor and took time to rest and recover. Gazing out my window, watching leaves sway with the wind, the simple life became the good life. When it comes to loving life, we may enjoy the sense of adventure or who we get to know and love along the way. We might long to linger in quiet moments, travel to exotic places, or serve in our community.

In some corners of the world, the “get wisdom, love life” perspective may sound naïve. As we listen to stories in the news or consider the stories in our lives, it may feel like wisdom is in short supply. But wisdom’s supply is unending when we seek the wisdom of God. (See James 1:4-6)

Thankfully, we can study God’s Word and learn how to apply His truth. In the process, like King Solomon, we begin to cherish understanding.

Often, a love of life grows from lessons learned. It frees us from the pressure of perfection and inspires us with the power of persistence.

Otherwise, I slide down the slope of unrealistic expectations and land in a puddle of discouragement. But by faith, there is so much to love about life because there is so much to love about God. (See Psalm 103:1-18) We may not understand all His ways, but we can certainly trust His heart. He gives a generous supply of wisdom to anyone who asks in faith, without doubting. (‭James 1:4-6).

Then, without distractions, we can be present with the people we love.

Without guilt, we can take time to rest and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.

Without fear, we can follow where He leads.

We can remember to “‭Grow a wise heart—you’ll do yourself a favor; keep a clear head—you’ll find a good life” (Proverbs 19:8 MSG).