Praying out with the bad air, in with the good. Out with the bad thoughts, in with the good. Out with the darkness, in with the light. ~Karin Fendick (HisFireFly)
My niece (T) has asthma. She had an attack shortly after marriage. Her husband (B) drove her to the emergency room and tried to calm her down.
“Breathe,” he insisted. “Just. Breathe.”
After treatment, she finally relaxed and breathed easily.
B sat on the edge of the bed, his back turned to her for a moment, when he felt an arm around his neck, choking him.
“Breathe,” T hissed. “Just. Breathe.”
My daughter had lung surgery last week. While under anesthesia, she breathed with the help of a tube. She had chest tubes inserted. After the procedure, even shallow breaths triggered stabbing pain. And yet she had to breathe deep–and cough–to keep her lungs expanded and to prevent infection. She also needed to keep moving–sitting up in the chair and walking in the hall–in spite of pain.
We naturally want to avoid pain at all costs.
But pain can be a gift that signals a problem. And sometimes inflicting pain is the only path to healing. And moving through the pain brings faster healing.
So what do we do when life chokes life? When circumstances suffocate? When our strength is gone, and we can hardly breathe? When all we want to do is crawl under the covers and stay there?
We stand up.
We keep moving.
We lean on Him.
And we just breathe.
Just.
Breathe.
Him.
“If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.” ~Psalm 34:18 (Message)
Beautifully said, Snady. Without Him, we are unable to breathe out the toxicity and make room for His fresh life.
Without Him, this life has little value. For the believer, this life is as bad as it gets. For the unbeliever, this life is as good as it gets.
Wise words, Anne. Thank you.
Breathing with you …
Much love and prayers.
🙂
oh man…this is true. hard and true.
But so worth it in the end.
His breath … our need.
I love how you always say so much in so few.
I’m slowly learning this, month after month, year after year. I catch my breath, then life chokes and I’m struggling again. But somehow if I can manage to just crawl a little, eventually I can stand again. Encouraging message, but I hated to hear of your family’s recent circumstances with breathing, literally!
There’s a lot to be said for staying low–near His feet. And isn’t that where the air is when there’s smoke?
As far as our latest crisis, it’s all good. And once the docs know what they are dealing with (pathology not known yet), my daughter will be able to undergo treatment for another issue with the appropriate drugs.
Encouraging message. Thank you.
Breathe. Him.
Thanks, Natasa.
I love this! Thanks for sharing… i wrote an entire book on this subject, unpacking the spiritual disciplines and showing the relationship of inhaling and exhaling – so important to inhale deeply, regularly – both physically and spiritually. The book: “Breathing New Life into Faith” is here: http://amzn.to/i73h7l
I just added that to my wish list for my next order. Thanks!
Just. Breathe. Him.
I’m not going to make a lengthy, thought-filled comment. I just loved that thought.
And Karen’s quote.
You ladies inspired me today.
You inspire me often!