Some good advice

The other day, I was freaking out about something that happened at work. I wasn’t even aware my breathing had become shallow. My co-worker gently touched my arm, looked me in the eye and said, “Just breathe.” That was some good advice I really needed.

The next morning, I woke up to the same words rolling around in my head, “Just breathe.” The Holy Spirit was reminding me of some really good advice, even before my feet hit the floor.

The last few weeks, we have been talking about contentment and frustration. Today, I want to talk about anxiety.

When life gets crazy busy, juggling work, school, laundry, family and friends, I often forget to breathe. It’s not that I stop breathing, I just don’t breathe intentionally. You know, those long, deep breaths that reach all the way down to your toes and then push that same breath out through your mouth slow and controlled. I’ve been doing this kind of breathing since I realized I had anxiety.

If you are like me, you probably feel like your life is out of control at times? Not all the time. Just most of the time.

“When chaos calls, just breathe.” 

Jonny Diaz sings this song that talks about “when Chaos Calls, Just Breathe.” It’s a great reminder. My breath has the power to calm that chaos. God calls us out of our ‘busy’ and reminds us to breathe Him in.

I have had anxiety and panic attacks for a while now. In the midst of a panic attack, breathing becomes difficult. In my book, The Me Disease, I talk about my struggle;

“When I got in my car, the anxiety didn’t stop. It was like a runaway train. My breathing became shallow. I felt like I had a baseball in my throat and bricks on my chest. I cranked the car, fastened my seat belt, and headed for home. The feeling got worse. I could not breathe or swallow. I thought I was going to die. I sent a text to Travis to see if he was at home. Praying he would be by the time I pulled in the driveway as I was having a full on panic attack. I was relieved to see his truck in the driveway. I hopped out of my car and found him standing at the door waiting for me , with his arms opened wide. I fell into his chest as he wrapped his big arms around me. My body heaved up and down as I struggled to breathe. He calmed me with his words, reassuring me that I would not die. He told me I might hyperventilate and pass out, but it would not kill me. We laughed just a little, then I cried. Things were strange for me in my newfound self.”

Just like Travis was waiting on me, God is always waiting on us, with opened arms ready to embrace us, to take our anxiety away and restore our breath.

Scriptures on breath (with my thoughts…)

• Genesis 2:7 NIV; “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” My thoughts: The Lord God breathed and man became a living being. Wow! You have been formed from that breath.
• Job 33:4 NLT; “For the Spirit of God has made me,
  and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”  My thoughts: God’s breath gives me life. 
•  Psalm 104:30 NLT; When you give them your breath, life is created,
  and you renew the face of the earth. My thoughts: God gives us His breath and we are created. 
• Ezekiel 37:6; I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin, and I will put breath in you so that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord.’” My thoughts: God puts His breath in me so that I may come alive and I will know God is God. 
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 AMP;All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; ¹⁷ so that the ^[a]man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work. My thoughts: The Word of God is God-breathed just like you and I are God-breathed.  

Nowadays, I don’t really struggle with panic attacks. Somehow, I found God in my breath.  I do still struggle with anxiety though. Especially when I don’t tend to my breath. There is power in our breath. Our breath is God’s breath, breathed into us by God Himself. The next time you find yourself out of breath with worry and anxiety, or struggling with life, remember, “Just Breathe.” God will do the rest.

Let us pray: Father God, you breathed your breath into us and we came alive. Help us to realize the power of our breath. In Jesus Name, Amen. -M