Holding our Breath

Laura Digan October 23, 2023 7 5

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Luke 8: 22-25 (NRSVA)

22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side of the lake.’ So they put out, 23 and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A gale swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. 24 They went to him and woke him up, shouting, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!’ And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, ‘Where is your faith?’ They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?’

I have asthma. One of my triggers is stress. When I am not managing stress well my asthma flares up making my chest tight, making me cough and wheezy. I have to slow down and focus on my breath. 

In the storms of life we often forget to breathe. Fear causes us to hold our breath.

Jesus didn’t calm the storm by any magic tricks, there was no Hollywood CGI effects. Jesus simply stood up and rebuked the storm. 

In Jesus we can have faith. Share your fears with Jesus. Allow Jesus to calm the storm of your life. With Jesus you don’t need to fear, you don’t need to hold your breath. For the presence of Jesus calms the storms, calms the waves, calms the wind. 

So we can breathe.

Do something for me just now. Focus on your breath. Breathe in and out, in and out. 

Now look at your right hand in front of you. And with your left hand index finger draw round your right hand. As you go up each finger breath in the peace of Jesus and as you go down each finger breath out calm. 

Lord Jesus I breathe in your peace
Lord Jesus I breathe out your calm.