Just Breathe
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Last week, my man texted me a picture from the hospital which he titled “Gas Chamber.” We had known for eight weeks that this day was coming. The pulmonologist wanted him to undergo a breathing test.
I am happy to report that our breathing is just fine. Thank you.
The tech who oversaw the “gas chamber” exam had worked with Bruce during his hospitalization, and apparently, he was quite shocked at his recovery. I guess most of the patients he sees don’t actually pass the breathing test.
It’s hard to bounce back from the brink when your breathing has been compromised.
I still wonder at the healing hand of God in our lives. His mercy overwhelms me. May I never forget that He wrought a miracle in my man’s now fully-healthy lungs.
You don’t appreciate the gift of breathing until you’ve struggled to gulp in air without assistance.
Anyway, in the middle of my man’s breathing test, I was furiously working on a writing project that basically landed on my lap out of nowhere. I spent 10 days running full speed ahead at a breakneck pace to meet a crazy deadline. I barely had time to take a breath.
Driven and desperate, I determined to finish on time — even if it killed me. I wrote into the wee hours of the morning and relied on Advil and soda to help me through the day.
As soon as I’d e-mailed the final product off for review, I crumbled on the couch in exhaustion. “Laptop, be gone,” I exclaimed. I needed to breathe.
But still I struggled to disconnect. I mean, I’d spent long hours attached to that screen. The keyboard started to define me.
Have you ever forgotten how to “just breathe” and be? We run ragged on an adrenaline-infused rhythm for so long that taking a break seems boring, barren, and baseless.
The enemy loves to get us busy.
When was the last time you “just breathed,” friend? I’ve learned that if I don’t stop to breathe God puts me to the test. He will slow me down in His mercy to teach me the importance of remembering that inhaling is a gift of His mercy.
Just be and breathe.
Fill your lungs with the peace of God. He is the air that you breathe.
Let’s Talk:
Do you struggle to “just breathe” like I do?
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I am sharing “Just Breathe” and joining like-minded sisters at Give Me Grace, Let us Grow, Spiritual Sundays, Faith-Filled Friday, Blessing Counters, Grace Moments, Tell His Story, Coffee for Your Heart, Three-Word Wednesday, Intentional Tuesday, Purposeful Faith’s RaRaLinkup, Rich-Faith Rising, Testimony Tuesday, and Sharing His Beauty.
I know that there is that placein my life that we can rest in GOD as the 3 Hewbrew boys did ab other bible characters has did. To ley us know
we can an must rest on GODS love for Us!
Hi Lyli, we are neighbors again! (#70 at Holly’s). Oh yes, breathing can be a challenge. Like you, I get to a point when Father says, “STOP.” I know He means it and I obey!!!
This thought really touched me today: “He will slow me down in His mercy to teach me the importance of remembering that inhaling is a gift of His mercy” I am in a Season of Slowed-Down, and my Word from God has been “Mercy” lately. I so needed to hear that just being ABLE to inhale is in itself a gift of His Mercy! I am your neighbor over at #TellHisStory today! Thank you for sharing beautiful thoughts here. –Blessings to you.
Bettie, I am so happy to hear that this sentence resonated with you. — I actually re-read this post this morning with fresh eyes and noticed that I’d used “His mercy” twice in the same sentence and was going to edit it…. but then I read your comment and realized it needed to stay just “as is.” You can never get enough of His mercy.
You said, ‘The keyboard started to define me.’
And I say, yes, I know, I know.
And when I start to feel that way I know that a bit of an online break is in order. Coming soon …
Thanks for the needed prompt, Lyli. And best wishes on whatever that was that called your name! The recipients will be blessed, for sure.
Thank you, Linda. You are such a sweet encourager. — We always take a week off from all things online in January, but this year with my grandmother passing, we didn’t get away, and I am feeling the difference.
I am so happy to hear of God’s healing hand in and on and through your hubby! He really is a good, good Father! And yes and amen (and Oh me too!) – I so often forget to just breathe – even though it is one of my main messages that I preach over and over… the enemy is not creative – but he is crafty and often times, I am forgetting to breathe while running full speed ahead before I even realize what is going on!
Taking time to breathe in slow… praying you find a little time to do the same!
So great to hear about God’s healing on your hubby.
A few years ago our Pastor was bucked off a frightened horse and trampled. His pelvis was crushed, and he suffered great amounts of pain and infection from the surgery that was performed. It was questionable for a few day as to whether he would live. It was a horrifying accident, and a terrible time in our lives. The Dr.’s said he would not walk again for at least 18 months. Here is how good God is, our Pastor walked on stage in early December for our Christmas program, and his accident was in August. Only 3 months and 2 weeks, and he was a “walking miracle.”
My point here is this, our Pastor said that he knows God needed him to slow down, and this was His way to get him to do so. He was able to rest and listen!
Yes! To all of this! Let’s normalize rest and remove the stigma of wasting time so that we can all be plugged in to God’s power supply! Great post!
Beautiful, Lyli. I do forget to breathe and how to breathe more often than I care to admit. I want to stay near to God and with each breath while I remain still, I can hear His breath upon the wind. He comes quietly.
Amen, amen, Lyli! You are SO RIGHT and I have too often been guilty! So happy to hear about how much evidence continues to stack up of how the Lord touched and healed your husband! Praise God!
Yes and Amen! I do struggle to just breathe and find myself more frenzied when I don’t allow myself that space. The only thing we want to define us is God who knows us better than we know ourselves. Thank you for this reminder. Your post today reminds me of the Johnny Diaz song “Just Breathe”. Sabbath blessings!
That song was part of the inspiration for this post. 🙂
The sad part (or is it pathetic?!) for me is a lot of my busyness is self-inflicted. I have so many ideas and things I want to do, I end up starting multiple tasks at once. Knowing it is crazy to do so! Yes, I need to really figure out which ones can be postponed. If I’m not careful, I’ll keep myself running and miss out on the unexpected blessings in the everyday moments. I needed this reminder, thank you! And so happy to hear your husband is well!
Amen. Every breath is a blessing. Praise God!
Oh, Lyli, I think we all struggle to breathe. We live in a time when busy is applauded. The busier we are the more valuable we must be. Thanks for this great reminder. And I’m so glad your husband is doing well. Glory to God!!
Sometimes it can be so hard to let go of whatever we are holding tight to. Thank you for the reminder to breathe.
Praise God for His miraculous healing of your husband’s lungs! I love the lesson He taught you through it! May the memory of it stay with you for a lifetime and continue to nudge you to breathe in God who loves you and gives you His peace. Amen