I Believe: In times of trouble, breathe in Jesus
Posted: Saturday, May 03, 2008
"O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow." Psalm 144:3-4
"O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow." Psalm 144:3-4
I remember it so clearly. A bright warm day. Beautiful colors jumping out and surprising me around every corner, around every smile. Sounds of grasshoppers leapfrogging in the tall hello-waving grasses of summer. Buzzing insects dive-bombing thistle flowers. Do they ever land on the thistles instead of the blooms? Ouch!
Smells of taffy floating through the air. Seeing the pink and white stripes stretching as far as they can go and still remain one piece. Sticky has a smell. It's sweet, mixed with little hands that travel through the dust and dirt of summer. More smells. Chlorine. Wet hair. Oily lotions. Sounds of dripping swim suits and feet slapping on concrete. The hot sun beating down, chasing children back into the water as they carry inside them the unrestrained giggles of summer.
I don't like water over my head. I'm not a good swimmer, but as long as I stay behind the roped-in area I'm fine. Pretending to swim but not able to tread water, I stand up when my arms and legs tire.
A big boy jumps in the water next to me. He's older, chubby with raven black hair. Without warning, he pushes me under the water to the very bottom of the pool. He sits on me. I'm still in shallow water, but I know for the first time that I'm in way over my head.
Holding my breath, trying to push him off but not being strong enough. He continues to calmly sit on me. Someone walking by probably sees nothing out of the ordinary, just a big boy relaxing in the water. All sounds cease. All smells are gone. No colors. Just me, the water, and one very big bully.
Sheer survival kicks in. My teeth chomp down on his closest area. With the last of my air I take a big bite. He shoots out of the water and runs like the devil himself is chasing him. I swim to the other side as fast as I can, without once touching bottom. I never see the chubby, raven-black-haired boy again. I don't remember his face. I don't remember the panicky feeling any more. But I know I could have died that day.
What do you do when life pushes you under? Are you trapped at the bottom of a bad marriage? A joyless job? A life-stealing addiction? Do you give up? Do you bite back? Do you pretend to swim, knowing you're not able to save yourself? Are you drowning in this life without even knowing it?
If you find yourself dog-paddling in shark-infested waters while reassuring those around you that you're fine, remember that there is solid ground nearby. There is pure air to breathe. It's in the Bible. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Remember the one who has life-giving breath so powerful He creates universes with a word. "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth." (Psalm 33:6) The same one who gave up his breath for each of us on the cross. "With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last." {M3Mark 15:37
I still live in shallow water more often than not. Sometimes, I still pretend I can swim. But when I find myself in water above my head, I no longer hold my breath and flail around, hoping to reach fresh air. I know who gave me life. "the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." Genesis 2:7
You can have that life, too. Breathe in Jesus and He'll give you the everlasting breath of life.
"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD." Psalm 150:6
Kathy Yoder is a devotional writer. She may be reached at dkeyoder@lognlines.com.
"O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow." Psalm 144:3-4
I remember it so clearly. A bright warm day. Beautiful colors jumping out and surprising me around every corner, around every smile. Sounds of grasshoppers leapfrogging in the tall hello-waving grasses of summer. Buzzing insects dive-bombing thistle flowers. Do they ever land on the thistles instead of the blooms? Ouch!
Smells of taffy floating through the air. Seeing the pink and white stripes stretching as far as they can go and still remain one piece. Sticky has a smell. It's sweet, mixed with little hands that travel through the dust and dirt of summer. More smells. Chlorine. Wet hair. Oily lotions. Sounds of dripping swim suits and feet slapping on concrete. The hot sun beating down, chasing children back into the water as they carry inside them the unrestrained giggles of summer.
I don't like water over my head. I'm not a good swimmer, but as long as I stay behind the roped-in area I'm fine. Pretending to swim but not able to tread water, I stand up when my arms and legs tire.
A big boy jumps in the water next to me. He's older, chubby with raven black hair. Without warning, he pushes me under the water to the very bottom of the pool. He sits on me. I'm still in shallow water, but I know for the first time that I'm in way over my head.
Holding my breath, trying to push him off but not being strong enough. He continues to calmly sit on me. Someone walking by probably sees nothing out of the ordinary, just a big boy relaxing in the water. All sounds cease. All smells are gone. No colors. Just me, the water, and one very big bully.
Sheer survival kicks in. My teeth chomp down on his closest area. With the last of my air I take a big bite. He shoots out of the water and runs like the devil himself is chasing him. I swim to the other side as fast as I can, without once touching bottom. I never see the chubby, raven-black-haired boy again. I don't remember his face. I don't remember the panicky feeling any more. But I know I could have died that day.
What do you do when life pushes you under? Are you trapped at the bottom of a bad marriage? A joyless job? A life-stealing addiction? Do you give up? Do you bite back? Do you pretend to swim, knowing you're not able to save yourself? Are you drowning in this life without even knowing it?
If you find yourself dog-paddling in shark-infested waters while reassuring those around you that you're fine, remember that there is solid ground nearby. There is pure air to breathe. It's in the Bible. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Remember the one who has life-giving breath so powerful He creates universes with a word. "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth." (Psalm 33:6) The same one who gave up his breath for each of us on the cross. "With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last." {M3Mark 15:37
I still live in shallow water more often than not. Sometimes, I still pretend I can swim. But when I find myself in water above my head, I no longer hold my breath and flail around, hoping to reach fresh air. I know who gave me life. "the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." Genesis 2:7
You can have that life, too. Breathe in Jesus and He'll give you the everlasting breath of life.
"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD." Psalm 150:6
Kathy Yoder is a devotional writer. She may be reached at dkeyoder@lognlines.com.
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