After accepting the Ultimate Climb Challenge for the American Lung Association Fight for Air, I’ve determined one thing: becoming a world-class stair climber is not one of my life goals.

Oh, I’ll likely do it again! It was definitely worthwhile. I enjoyed interacting with and watching people. And I learned a lot. Next time, I’ll wear gloves and keep cough drops in my pockets. The biggest lesson I learned is that there are places in my lungs that rarely get air. I think I used every miniscule space in my lungs that day. I managed alright and had no light-headedness or heavy coughing, but my lungs were definitely fighting for air.

I now better appreciate not only my body’s ability to take in and process air but also the availability of breathable air around me.

Air is filled with life-sustaining nourishment. God created me with the capacity to physically take it in, process it, and efficiently use it. He also created me with the capacity – the need – to spiritually breathe. He gave me the Holy Spirit to invite, yield to, and allow to nourish me to do God’s will. Without the Holy Spirit, I am a shell of who I could be. My life is incomplete and unsustainable. God breathes life into me through the Holy Spirit.

Yielding to the Holy Spirit is challenging. Sometimes I feel as if I’m fighting for air. I want to grow, but it feels like an uphill climb. My legs and lungs burn from the effort. God doesn’t say life purposed for him will be easy. In my own efforts, I’ll collapse on the first landing or procrastinate getting started. I’ll try to determine the right pace and rationalize the distance of my goals. And it still won’t be easy.

With God, I have purpose. I can yield to the right pace. I catch glimpses of the goal. I notice people cheering me on. I encourage others along the way. I don’t overextend myself nor do I underextend myself. Whether I feel overextended or not becomes secondary to letting God define where I am and how I’m doing. He determines my ability and progress. He determines my pace and purpose.

In what areas of your life are you most fighting for air?

Are you fighting for air on your own or are you trusting God to guide your every breath?

Accept God’s ultimate climb challenge. The journey is worth every breath.

So let us run the race that is before us and never give up.  (Hebrews 12:1)