Don’t hold your breath. It’s a phrase usually used to discourage someone to wait for something unlikely to happen. But I was thinking of another use for it.

My daughter is about to study overseas, and as we’ve talked about the details, and she’s shared her plans, I’ve thought of how I hope she doesn’t hold her breath through the experience. I hope she takes deep breaths every step of the way. I want her to savor every moment. She’ll likely experience joy, anxiety, frustration, and freedom – a myriad of emotions. There will be highs and lows. I hope she breathes deeply to fully experience the adventures.

There are many “don’ts” I could tell her (and as a mom, I haven’t refrained from sharing my advice at times). It’s not just about what she shouldn’t do in order to keep safe and to avoid problems. Of course, I want to share those things…but this is about fully experiencing the opportunities she’ll have.

Consider y0ur life. Are you holding your breath? Are you waiting for something to happen – and missing out on other opportunities in the process? Are you paralyzed by fear or stuck in memories – to the extend you’re missing out on the opportunities of today? Are you certain that if you just hold on a bit longer, the stench of your trials will be over, and you’ll soon be surrounded by a field of sweet-smelling flowers.

It could happen. But life on earth is generally messy (and often stinky). However, there is always something to learn from an experience. And whatever you learn will likely (1) equip you for dealing with something in the future, and/or (2) enhance a good experience and make it better or make a not-so-great experience slightly more tolerable.

If you hold your breath, you might avoid some of the bad, but you’ll also miss out on the learning process. And when you don’t learn a lesson at one point, you’ll probably stand face-to-face with a similar lesson again. That’s just how the growth process works.

And while you’re holding your breath, you’re going to miss out on a lot! Breath sustains life. Sure, sometimes you’ll also take in something unpleasant or even toxic, but in general, breath nourishes you.

Breathe deeply. Take in everything around you. God surrounds you with blessings, choices, challenges, and opportunities. Do you really want to miss out on any part of his plan for you when it all works together as you grow toward spiritual maturity?

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:6