It’s been a long time since I let the clock beat me. In fact it’s been four years, that’s when I exited the hamster wheel via chronic illness and turned off the speedway onto the bumpy road of midlife divorce. But today, I remembered how it felt to plan more in one afternoon than could be done in a week; to demand that I meet everyone’s expectations and therefore demand that everyone meet mine. And I’m sorry, for both really. I need to stop and breathe.
My watch reminds me to breathe. Like seriously, you think I’m apneic? But spiritually I am. My soul gets cyanotic from not breathing in truth and the word. Instead of inhaling the aroma of Christ, I let the enemy drive my thoughts on a treadmill to nowhere.
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” Exodus 20:8 (NIV)
I said a four letter word
Stop. Stop letting the expectations of others make you compete with yourself to please them all. Stop obsessing over things beyond your control. Stop trying to organize chaos. Stop and breathe.
Deeply, slowly, in and out. Just breathe.
Are you eavesdropping on me? Because I was talking to myself. I do that a lot and I hope you do too. If you’re anything like me, you need to say it because you need to hear it.
Hear what?
Stop
Breathe
What if God really is in control? What if He redeems all things and uses them for good. He says He does you know. What if I acted like I believed that? What if you did too?
“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.” Psalm 130:5 (NIV)
Powerful message. Yes, how would our lives be different if we truly believed God is in control?. If we stopped trying to control things ourselves and turned to Him, we would find peace. 🙂
Exactly!
Stop and Breathe, great reminder Vickie. Linger and savor are the two words the Lord is speaking to me.
So, my take away is for me to Stop, breathe, linger and savor.
Love that