Breathing Room

This summer, a number of Kairos women have been going through a devotional by Sandra Stanley called “Breathing Room.” I’m thankful for the chance to reflect on “breathing room” as I believe it’s a concept most people could embrace in the often-hectic pace of life!

Sandra defines “breathing room” as the space between our current pace and our limits. Although Jonathan and I have made strides over the past few years to give ourselves more margin in our time and our finances, keeping that “breathing room” is a constant struggle. If we’re not intentional about it, it is easy for me to get caught in society’s pace of “more is better” – fitting in just one more thing on our schedules, saying yes to one more commitment at work or in our personal lives, buying just one more thing for our house or our children. If we’re not careful, we can get maxed out quickly without keeping our priorities in order.

The study challenges you to think about WHY we often live a pace without margin – what fears are driving this way of living? As I think about this in my own life, I think a lot of it comes down to a fear that God doesn’t really have good plans for my life – that I need to take control and continue to do more, get more, be more – to be fulfilled and provide for.

How do we escape this struggle? By remembering who God is.

In Exodus, the Lord says: “You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord” (Exodus 31:13).

What struck me here is that the purpose of Sabbath, of rest, of creating breathing room – is to remember that the LORD is who he said he is. Scripture reminds us, “do not fear,” “where we are weak, he is strong,” and to “cast all our burdens on him because he cares for us.”

I often lack trust in the Lord’s provision and plans for my life and my family’s life. I fear we will fall behind or miss out (#FOMO is real). But continuing to push harder is not what the Lord wants for us. He is ultimately in control of our lives and can be trusted.

I’m thankful for a community to share ideas with as we look for practical ways to create more margin and breathing room.

I’m grateful this study started this conversation and that we can have grace with each other as we strive to live it out.

Most of all, I’m thankful for the reminder that the Lord is GOOD and will provide when we trust in him.

– Charlotte Marie Sturtz