Do you ever forget how it feels to breathe? Sometimes I forget to breathe...life gets overwhelming, I feel like I am drowning, and I struggle to feel alive. And then, a moment comes and I remember the thrill of filling my lungs with crisp, invigorating oxygen, breathing deeply and letting purity overtake my lifeless spirit. I think that is where I am at right now. I am learning to breathe again. Learning to relish the simplicity of life, and finding healing for the stressed-out, stretched-out, often-worried and overwhelmed places in my soul.
I believe it is in those places that Christ desires to come and dwell, to bring restoration and healing. I recently read a quote by Henri Nouwen, "Where you are most human, most yourself, weakest--there Jesus lives." Oh what strength that reminder brings to my being! Jesus doesn't stay away from the battered (often self-sabatoged) places in the depths of my being...He travels there with purpose and that is where his destination lies! We have a God who "breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron" (Psalm 107:16). I look around and I see people sitting in darkness "in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains" (Psalm 107:10) AND YET I see our Savior coming forth and breaking through our chains of indifference, of apathy, of self-sabatoge, and of every imaginable hinderance that we could concieve. OUR GOD SAVES!!! So if you are tired, worn out, burned out on religion--than come to Him. Get away with the one who can recover your life, show you how to rest, and teach you to live freely and lightly in the unforced rhythms of grace. (Matthew 11:28 message paraphrase)
That is right where I want to be. In the arms of my God, breathing deeply of His grace and freshness, learning how to live freely in the unforced rythms of grace. Something inside of me becomes a little less tight as I read those words. Psalm 63:1 translated into "The Message" version is a cry from my soul as well. "I've worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts. So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory. In your generous love I am really living at last!" Oh at last! How often I travel the desert hillsides, thirsting for something to quench my parched lips! How often I turn to material things to satisty...and how often do I remain dehydrated and emaciated. The things I turn to for strength are often weaker than I am! They cannot hold me up! There is only ONE who can be my rock on the shifting sands of life. So today, and every day, I put my hand in His and I give Him the authority to guide me through the mountains and valleys of life. I offer you the opportunity to do the same. Take your hand, stretch it out, and let God wrap His strength around you. This world holds trouble at every turn, but the hand that is holding yours says, "Take heart, for I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Breathe deeply of His truth today.
