During Lacrosse season, freshmen year of high school, the air was different than what I was used to. In the fall, I played Field Hockey, and for some reason I found it hard to breathe while we were running in the crisp spring air.
It was hard to breathe and the more I thought about not being able to breathe, the less I could breathe, the tighter my chest became, and the more panicked I became. I couldn't even focus on my running, let alone playing in a game. ALL I could think about was my frantic breathing, and my racing heart.
I still don't know why that season I couldn't breathe properly, but I learned quickly that if I didn't calm my brain down, and start to calm my breathe, I wasn't going to be able to run, let alone PLAY at all.
So I began to speak to myself while I ran. Slowly, Breathe in, Breathe out, You can Do this. Stay Calm, I am fine, nothing is wrong...
(call me crazy.. it is what it is, I did it and it helped!)
But as I spoke to myself I could feel my breathe slow, my heart stopped racing and I was able to run faster.
I did this every time we would go for a run (which was quite often, unfortunately for us girls who don't consider themselves runners. When your coach for lacrosse is also the cross country coach, get ready to become a runner whether you like it or not!). Pretty soon I had trained my breath to remain calm, and sturdy no matter the run, and this way of breathing became second nature.
When we were running sprints, or in the final seconds of a game, I was never out of breathe. My breathing remained calm and controlled, while my feet pumping at super speed. (well super speed for me anyway)
I no longer had to talk to myself to convince my breath to slow down, it became second nature.
No matter the circumstance, no matter the length of the runs, the terrain, or the speed of the game, my body never felt over exerted and my breathes remained controlled. In fact my game improved. My speed improved, my endurance improved!
Crazy right!
Slowing my breathe and keeping calm, allowed my BODY to move FASTER, to IMPROVE, to gain SKILL SETS and build ENDURANCE!
IN FACT, no matter how fast my feet would go, my breathe never changed. It remained constant; slow, steady and controlled.
My feet where spinning, but my breathing remained slow----
Breathe INNNNNNNN and OOUUUUT
You know, this is how God calls us to be in life. Not just on the field, not just running, but EVERY DAY LIFE!
He calls us to remain calm amongst the chaos.
And how do we do that?
Focus!
What you focus on Grows!
You see if I had focused on my situation, my heart beating faster, my breathing getting quicker and more shallow. Allowed my mind to tell me I was going to pass out, or not be able to run anymore, or something was wrong, well then.... Something would have gone wrong!
I would have most likely passed out.
However, I chose to redirect my focus on positivity and speak calmness into my breathe, into my heart and into my body.
I FOCUSED on the controllable.
You see we live in a world that is uncontrollable, full of chaos, fear, pain, hurt, destruction, disappointment... you name it.
But if thats what we focus on, we will never overcome. We will never live the life God has called us to be.
God says,
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
So we know we will have trouble, But he says... FOCUS ON ME SO THAT YOU MAY HAVE PEACE! I HAVE ALREADY OVERCOME THE WORLD.
Just like controlling your breathe in exercise by focusing on slowing your breathing, you can also control the peace in your life by focusing on Jesus.
When you focus on Him, He will give you peace amongst the storm, stability amongst the waves, and an anchor when your getting pushed around.
No matter the chaos, no matter the circumstance, slow down your breathe and focus on JESUS!
Remember no matter how fast your feet move, you can always control your breathe!
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