Just breathe.

It was an important reminder – one I often needed in that first year as I adjusted to my life as the shattered pieces swirled around me.

It’s not that I wasn’t breathing. Obviously, I was still alive, so I was breathing. But I would sometimes catch myself not breathing well. I’d slow down and breathe deeply. It wasn’t just about moderating the oxygen going into my body and giving me what I needed. It was a reminder of life. It was a choice to continue. It was posturing myself for gratitude and peace. It was a decision to slowly savor a moment.

God gave me breath.

Shortly after my ex walked away from our marriage, I bought a necklace that said, “Just Breathe.” I wore it often and would frequently realize I was holding the thin piece of silver between my fingers. It was a tangible reminder to breathe. It was an acknowledgement that God gave me breath and the ability to breath. He gave me life, and I could trust him through anything.

Absolutely anything.

I still remind myself to breathe at times. It’s not that I struggle as much to breathe, but paying attention to my breath and acknowledging God as the provider of nourishment through that breath postures me to trust him. I find that breathing intentionally is always settling. God reminds me of my grounding. He orients me.

The song Great Are You Lord often plays in my mind as I intentionally breathe.

It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise to You only
And all the earth will shout Your praise
Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing
Great are You, Lord

We all have breath. What we do with that breath matters.