I’ve always been a runner; I love it. The length of my run is dependent upon the rhythm of my breathing, and if I’m not breathing correctly, then I’m likely not going to get very far. Running is therapeutic for me because I am so focused on my next breath that this leaves little time to dissect every word from every conversation I’ve had throughout the day, wondering who I may have offended. My mind is free from all the clutter, at least for those three to five miles of my run.

Unfortunately, over the last couple of years, I’ve had some physical limitations that prevent me from running like I used to. This has been hard. Running forces me to submit to the power of breath, to steady my heart rate, and most importantly- to stay on course. So, since I’m not able to run like before, I’ve had to find alternative ways to exercise my heart, mind, and body.

Yesterday I went to my first in-person yoga class. I’ve tried it online, but I am the type of person that needs one on one interaction when I’m learning something new. Yoga is interesting. At the moment, you think to yourself, “This isn’t doing anything, I’d rather be running,” lol! Fast forward to today- I feel like I’ve been in a fight with a gorilla. Every part of me is sore but in a good way. Soreness means you’ve worked muscles that need to be worked but maybe haven’t been in a while.

I had a wonderful teacher, she walked us slowly through each movement, explaining what area of the body we were working on and the benefits we would see as a result. The most important thing, however, is… your breath. We spent the entire first five minutes simply lying on our backs, eyes closed, breathing in and out. It was wonderful. I honestly can’t remember the last time I did that.

Throughout the class, our teacher kept repeating the importance of “finding your breath.” With every movement, she made a point to first say, “don’t forget to breathe.” Isn’t that odd? That sometimes we have to be reminded to take a breath? It’s almost always when we are in the middle of something really hard or stressful.

At the end of the class, we were tasked with the same thing, lie on our backs and find our breath. What does that really mean? “Find your breath.” Most of us don’t have to look very far before BAM! There it is, and there it is again; it seems so natural, right? We don’t really even have to think about it. Until we do. Have you ever felt “out of breath”?

I’ve thought a lot about this. The importance of breath and where it comes from. There really is only one explanation.

Every time we breathe, we are in the presence of Our Heavenly Father- the giver of life- He IS the very air that we breathe. Our need for Him is as constant as our need for air.

How often it is that I take each breath for granted. I don’t really realize how badly I need it until I’m desperate for it.

There have been times in my life when the same could be said for my relationship with the Father. I didn’t stop to give thanks or even acknowledge His presence until I was crying out in pain, begging for relief, desperate for Him. I’ve since come to know Him more personally. I know that with every breath, He is with me. If I’m not careful, I can easily become distracted, taking my focus off of things that are kingdom-building and more focused on things self-serving. It’s in these moments that I am reminded to “find my breath.” Seek the guidance, peace, and wisdom of the Father.

Life is so busy. We are all pulled in so many different directions with work, family, and all the extras. I recently read “The Relentless Elimination of Hurry,” by John Mark Comer. One of the best quotes from that book is,

“To walk with Jesus is to walk with a slow, unhurried pace. Hurry is the death of prayer and only impedes and slows our work. It never advances it”

Yikes! How true is this? Can you think of a single time in scripture when Jesus was too busy for someone? No, but we can reference times when during some of the busiest moments of His life, He took time to get away to desolate places and be with His Father. Jesus recognized the importance of quiet time.

Full transparency, about a year ago, I had a panic attack. I didn’t know that’s what it was until a very nice paramedic said in one of the kindest voices, “You aren’t actually dying, I think you’re having an anxiety attack because you are under more stress than maybe you realize.”

This was really weird to me and frankly hard to hear because I didn’t FEEL stressed at all. I DID, however, feel like I couldn’t catch my breath, and surely that meant I was going to die. What’s interesting is that after he said that, my heart rate began to slow down, I was able to catch my breath, and the vice that was squeezing my chest moments before suddenly loosened. The stress and tension had been building up without me even realizing it, and it finally exposed itself in the form of an anxiety attack.

I felt embarrassed and vulnerable. How could this have happened? I didn’t feel anxious about anything, nor did I feel stressed. What I now know is that I had become distracted and so busy that I lost my focus.

God is so good at sending us reminders that He is with us. Sometimes those reminders come in the form of strangers whose only purpose is to simply remind us to breathe.

You can exercise all you want, but if you aren’t breathing correctly, if you aren’t taking time to find and focus on your breath, then you won’t get very far or see much results.

We can hurry through life, trying to do ALL the things, but if we don’t make time for the giver of life, acknowledge His Presence and focus intently on the gift of life we have been given, then we can easily become overwhelmed and desperate.

Breathing directly corresponds with the presence of God because, with each breath you take, you are breathing in life. You are breathing in His goodness, His mercy, and His wonderful grace. You have been breathing every day of your life, and that very breath is symbolic of God’s spirit with you. Even now, as you read this, your chest is rising and falling- God is with you. He is as close as the air that we breathe; He IS the air that we breathe.

My encouragement to you is to slow down and “find your breath.” Enter into a time of thanksgiving for the one who gives you life. Maybe you do this while running a couple of miles a  day, maybe it’s in the car line, or maybe it’s taking five minutes to close your eyes while you sit behind your desk at work. It’s imperative we do this because, without it, we won’t get very far or bear much fruit.

Eliminate the hurry, breathe deep and rest in God’s goodness and perfect peace.

“Thank you, Heavenly Father, for my life. Thank you that when I am desperate for you, when I am struggling and distracted, I don’t have to look far before you are there. You are as close as my next breath. You see me, You know me, You care for me. You supply my every need, and while it may not always line up with what I want, your plan is perfect, and your timing is impeccable.

Forgive me when I forget to breathe and when I neglect my relationship with you. You are the giver of life and all things good. Today I will slow down, take deep breaths, and be reminded of your beauty all around me.”

Lynn Fulwider
Lean into Jesus Ministries

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