I just took a deep breath. It was a breath that marked a moment when once again I recognized that I'm not in control. I think in a Lamaze class Donna and I took a long time ago, they called it a "cleansing breath." Indeed it was.
Ever been there? A place where you finally take that much needed deep breath? It always comes after many short, choppy, and unhealthy breaths that are fueled by fear, desperation, bitterness, resentment, worry, stress, doubt, etc… We can find ourselves almost hyperventilating as we try to figure out what to do, what to change, what to say, or how to make things better. We want things to be “better.” A better life seems to be elusive. Like drops of mercury on the floor, it’s impossible to grasp.
We’ve tried to make sense of it all. We’ve even tried to convince others that we know what we are doing. We’ve lied, controlled, coerced, manipulated, dominated, or passively yielded to make peace, and we come to the conclusion that we have no idea what we are doing. At some point, hopefully, we take a deep breath. A cleansing breath. Then the whirlwind of feelings, emotions, and thoughts ceases for a moment. Our minds slow down. Our souls find solitude. Our bodies rest. We breathe.
Check out these verses…
“The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.” Genesis 2:7
“Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.’ Then He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:21-22
Interesting huh? The Lord God breathed the “breath of life” into Adam, so he could breathe in and receive physical life. Jesus breathed on the disciples, so they could breathe in His presence, the Holy Spirit, and receive spiritual life.
The first breath we breathed out of the womb was from God. We weren’t searching for a better life, we were grasping for air and life itself. We breathed in deeply as newborn infants seeking to live.
As we grew and matured a new search began. We no longer sought air to breathe because we knew it was there. It was a reflex. Breathe In...Breathe Out. Now, we found ourselves grasping for something else that we weren't sure was there, hope, answers, peace, direction, faith, purpose, and love.
Ever been there? A place where you finally take that much needed deep breath? It always comes after many short, choppy, and unhealthy breaths that are fueled by fear, desperation, bitterness, resentment, worry, stress, doubt, etc… We can find ourselves almost hyperventilating as we try to figure out what to do, what to change, what to say, or how to make things better. We want things to be “better.” A better life seems to be elusive. Like drops of mercury on the floor, it’s impossible to grasp.
We’ve tried to make sense of it all. We’ve even tried to convince others that we know what we are doing. We’ve lied, controlled, coerced, manipulated, dominated, or passively yielded to make peace, and we come to the conclusion that we have no idea what we are doing. At some point, hopefully, we take a deep breath. A cleansing breath. Then the whirlwind of feelings, emotions, and thoughts ceases for a moment. Our minds slow down. Our souls find solitude. Our bodies rest. We breathe.
Check out these verses…
“The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.” Genesis 2:7
“Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.’ Then He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:21-22
Interesting huh? The Lord God breathed the “breath of life” into Adam, so he could breathe in and receive physical life. Jesus breathed on the disciples, so they could breathe in His presence, the Holy Spirit, and receive spiritual life.
The first breath we breathed out of the womb was from God. We weren’t searching for a better life, we were grasping for air and life itself. We breathed in deeply as newborn infants seeking to live.
As we grew and matured a new search began. We no longer sought air to breathe because we knew it was there. It was a reflex. Breathe In...Breathe Out. Now, we found ourselves grasping for something else that we weren't sure was there, hope, answers, peace, direction, faith, purpose, and love.
When we couldn't find what we were looking for, we began to panic. Our pulse quickened. We began to work harder. We tried to figure things out on our own to no avail. We screamed “Where are you God?” “Why won’t you help us?” “I’m suffocating here! I can’t breathe!”
Then we hear a voice. Faint and quiet. In the deep recesses of our Spirit. The voice speaks again. We recognize it. It is familiar. It was there in the beginning. When we were grasping for air initially and it spoke to us, “Breathe.” We close our eyes. We sit back. We listen. The voice says, “Breathe.” The voice grows louder. The other voices begin to dissipate. Again it speaks, “Breathe.” Our thoughts yield. Our pulse slows. Our body relaxes. Louder this time, “Breathe.” We listen. Peace enters our minds, if only for a moment, as our Father speaks. We listen. He says, “I am hope. I am love. I am peace. I am here. Breathe in. Receive.” The world seems to quiet. Our dreams for a Better Life are replaced with a deeper desire for a Better Hope and intimacy with our Father. We breathe in deeply. We now realize we are where we were meant to be all along, with our Creator, our Savior, our Dad. Nothing else matters. We hear. We smile. We rest.
The quiet moment is interrupted as life begins to scream out interrupting this peaceful place. Family. Deadlines. Bills. Work. The Future. Agendas. Plans. Tragedy. Pain. We speak to our Father, “I don’t want to leave.” Then we hear the still small voice say, “You don’t have to. I’m here. In you. With you. I’ll never leave you. Just Breathe. Receive.”
Where ever you are. Whatever you may be facing, take a minute. Close your eyes. Listen. That voice calls out to you. Receive Jesus. He is the “way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) He is Love. He is Peace. He gave His life so that we could be saved. You see, It’s not a Better Life we are looking for…It’s a Better Hope. He is Hope. He is Life. You know His voice. Trust in Him. He will guide you to straighter and less traveled paths. Don't be afraid. He will give you the faith to step out and believe. He will be in You. He will comfort, support, and care for you. You are not alone. Rest In Him. Breathe.
Then we hear a voice. Faint and quiet. In the deep recesses of our Spirit. The voice speaks again. We recognize it. It is familiar. It was there in the beginning. When we were grasping for air initially and it spoke to us, “Breathe.” We close our eyes. We sit back. We listen. The voice says, “Breathe.” The voice grows louder. The other voices begin to dissipate. Again it speaks, “Breathe.” Our thoughts yield. Our pulse slows. Our body relaxes. Louder this time, “Breathe.” We listen. Peace enters our minds, if only for a moment, as our Father speaks. We listen. He says, “I am hope. I am love. I am peace. I am here. Breathe in. Receive.” The world seems to quiet. Our dreams for a Better Life are replaced with a deeper desire for a Better Hope and intimacy with our Father. We breathe in deeply. We now realize we are where we were meant to be all along, with our Creator, our Savior, our Dad. Nothing else matters. We hear. We smile. We rest.
The quiet moment is interrupted as life begins to scream out interrupting this peaceful place. Family. Deadlines. Bills. Work. The Future. Agendas. Plans. Tragedy. Pain. We speak to our Father, “I don’t want to leave.” Then we hear the still small voice say, “You don’t have to. I’m here. In you. With you. I’ll never leave you. Just Breathe. Receive.”
Where ever you are. Whatever you may be facing, take a minute. Close your eyes. Listen. That voice calls out to you. Receive Jesus. He is the “way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) He is Love. He is Peace. He gave His life so that we could be saved. You see, It’s not a Better Life we are looking for…It’s a Better Hope. He is Hope. He is Life. You know His voice. Trust in Him. He will guide you to straighter and less traveled paths. Don't be afraid. He will give you the faith to step out and believe. He will be in You. He will comfort, support, and care for you. You are not alone. Rest In Him. Breathe.
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