The Holy Work of Staying Curious: How God Uses Curiosity to Heal Our Bodies, Renew Our Minds, and Strengthen Our Faith

The Holy Work of Staying Curious

Discovering How God Uses Curiosity to Heal Our Bodies, Renew Our Minds, and Strengthen Our Faith

 

The morning air here in North Carolina feels crisp and alive, and every time I step outside, it takes me back to my home state of Michigan, where cool mornings and changing seasons have always been part of life.

Something about this time of year slows me down and makes me pay attention. The light softens, the air smells clean, and the trees begin their slow, stunning transformation — green giving way to gold, bright orange, and crimson red. It’s otherworldly in its beauty.

What always gets me, though, is this: even at the height of their color and brilliance, the leaves are preparing to let go. They’re not fighting to hold on. They’re simply doing what they were created to do — releasing what’s finished so that new life can emerge again in time.

Even science confirms it: at the height of their beauty, trees are already beginning the process of renewal — pulling nutrients back into their roots and preparing for the growth that will come in spring.

That rhythm in nature always speaks to my soul. It reminds me that change, when we allow it, can be a holy thing, a quiet kind of grace.

God’s been reminding me that the same thing happens within us. He invites us to stay curious in the middle of our own seasons of change — to loosen our grip on what we think we need to control and to start asking why.

Why am I holding on here?
Why is this part of me resisting what He’s clearly trying to grow?
Why is letting go so hard, even when I know it’s good for me?

The more I ask why, the more I realize that curiosity isn’t about control or fixing, it’s about trust.  It’s about turning toward God and saying, “Lord, help me see what You’re doing here.”

Like the trees, we can learn to let go with grace and trust that God is always at work — growing something new beneath the surface, even when we can’t see it yet.

The posture of trust and openness is at the heart of what we practice together in NOURISH — staying curious, asking why, and allowing God to shape growth from the inside out.

 

Staying Curious in Our Seasons of Change

In NOURISH, this is what we do — we get curious, we stay curious, and we keep asking why with a learner’s mindset that remains open to change.

God invites us into that same process in every season of life. He calls us to notice what’s shifting within us, to loosen our grip on what we think we need to control, and to trust Him in the middle of it.

Curiosity about our health and our lives helps us see the bigger story. It turns frustration into understanding and resistance into growth. It’s what allows us to receive His guidance instead of forcing our own way.

When we stay curious, we become more patient with ourselves and more in tune with what God is trying to teach us.

This is where real change begins — not in striving, but in trusting.

 

Learning to Ask Why

Slowing down to get curious doesn’t come naturally in a world that celebrates hustle and perfection. We live in a culture that tells us to push harder, do more, and prove our worth.

 

But the NOURISH journey — and the spiritual journey — invite something different.

They invite us to pause and ask why.

Why am I always tired?
Why do I crave sugar or comfort food when I’m stressed?
Why do I keep saying yes when my heart is craving rest?
Why do I try to do everything on my own when God is inviting me to depend on Him?

When we ask why without judgment, we make space for truth.
We give God room to speak into what’s really going on — not just in our bodies, but in our hearts.

Curiosity is how we learn to listen again — to our biofeedback, our emotions, our relationships, and to the Holy Spirit’s quiet guidance.

And the beautiful thing?
We don’t have to have all the answers.
God honors the asking.
He meets us in the middle of the questions, teaching us to see ourselves through His eyes—with love, patience, and compassion.

 

Curiosity as a Form of Prayer

I’ve come to believe that staying curious is a kind of prayer.
When we ask why with humility and openness, we’re inviting God into the details of our lives.

He already knows our struggles; he knows the gap between who we want to be and what we sometimes do.

He sees the woman who wants to care for her body but feels tired.
He sees the woman who longs to set boundaries but struggles with guilt.
He sees the woman who craves connection but hides behind busyness.
And He loves her, right there. He loves you right where you are, just as you are, sweet sister!

When we bring our why to Him, He helps us see what’s underneath — fear, exhaustion, longing, or a simple need for grace. He doesn’t shame us for those moments; He transforms them.

This is how healing begins, not from striving for perfection, but from being curious enough to seek His wisdom in the middle of our humanity.

 

A Few Questions to Reflect On This Month

Take a few quiet minutes this week to sit with God and reflect:

Body

• Why am I feeling tired, hungry, or restless right now?
• What is my body asking for that I’ve been too busy to notice?
• How can I honor what it needs today with gentleness?

Mind

• What story am I believing about myself that isn’t true?
• Why am I pushing, numbing, or avoiding something that needs attention?
• What might change if I replaced judgment with curiosity?

Spirit

• Where is God inviting me to slow down and listen?
• Why do I resist receiving the grace He so freely offers?
• How might I practice trusting that His love is enough — even here?

 

You’re Not Alone in This

Friend, our goal this month isn’t perfection.
It’s awareness.
It’s allowing curiosity to soften the edges of our striving.
It’s learning to see our patterns not as failures, but as gentle teachers guiding us toward wholeness.

If this message speaks to you — if you’re ready to learn how to care for your body, mind, and spirit with curiosity, grace, and faith — I’d love to walk alongside you.

Through my NOURISH and RESTORE Health Coaching programs, I help women build rhythms that support real, sustainable change — the kind that honors your body and deepens your relationship with God.

You can learn more here or reach out directly for a free clarity call.

Let’s stay curious — with our health, our habits, our relationships, and our hearts.
Let’s ask why not to fix, but to understand.
And let’s believe that in every moment we choose compassion over criticism, God meets us there — ready to renew, restore, and nourish us from the inside out.

Health & grace,
Ann

About The Author: Ann Hackman is a Certified Health Coach (IIN) and NASM Personal Trainer with advanced training in hormone health and metabolism. She’s the creator of NOURISH, a faith-based, science-backed program that helps women restore energy, balance hormones, and feel at home in their bodies again.