“Man is like a breath;
his days are like a passing shadow.” Ps 144:4
“You have made my life no linger than the width of
my hand. My entire lifetime
is just a moment to You; at best, each of us is but
a breath.” Ps 39:5
“What is your life? You are a mist that appears for
a little while and then vanishes.”
Jms. 4:14
We
as humans seem to put such a premium on this earthly experience, yet God tells
us our lives on this planet are but a vapor. Have you ever contemplated the
temporary nature a single breath in light of all of eternity? It’s minuscule.
In
recent days, we Cleary’s have been using a simple breath as a measure for the
things we are allowing to affect us. One of us will demonstratively breathe in
and out (a breath symbolizing our entire life on earth), then ask, “In this representative
life breath, where does (my angst) fit?” …Said differently, “What
space, in this breath representing my entire life, does the thing that is bugging me fit?” ~Then, just to make this point
more incisive, we’ll take a LONG “Methuselah 989yr breath” and ask the same
question.
More
often than not, we are finding that “the thing” we are angst about, has zero
room in our symbolized life breath, even in the longest of breaths! With this
“ah-ha moment” close at hand, we’ll then ask ourselves, “WHY am I choosing to concern
myself with ‘this thing’?!”
Try
it. Think about something that is really bugging you. Now, breathe in…and breathe
out. Do it again. ~And again, but this time, slowly take in a gigantic breath, and
hold, then release it out at a snail's pace. (A Methuselah 989yr breath).
~Question: Where, in this HUGE breath representing your entire life, does “the
thing” that’s bugging you right now fit?
Certainly,
there are times, situations and relational concerns that are very much part of
our life breath; lessons learned and relationships fostered will carry on to
eternity. It is both wise and important to embrace these particular types of
concerns. To prayerfully trust God with the processes and outcomes, allowing
Him to transform us in and through these types of challenges.
God tells us:
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petitions,
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petitions,
with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace
which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus” Phil. 4:6
which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus” Phil. 4:6
Would
you like this kind of peace? Ask Jesus.
When
we ask Him to forgive us of our sins and be the Lord of our “life breath”, He
promises:
“I have swept
away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist.” Is. 44:22
Remember,
this life is but a vapor, a mist.
“Let everything that has
breath praise the Lord!” Ps. 150:6
Much
love and big hugs, ~Shaun and Betsy
