This blog post is a re-creation of the class intention Alia offered us during our virtual Praise in Motion class Tuesday, April 21, 2020. Included at the end is the breathing exercise she walked us though - so you can continue this practice!
COVID-19.
Who saw something like this coming?
And now we have all been stuck inside our own homes for multiple weeks without a definitive end in sight! I’m sure I am not the only one finding parts, or even all of this quarantine thing tiring.
There are some things I just want to go back to normal.
Maybe like me, you are tired of wanting to see people you love that you don’t live with, to go places other than your own house, to feel more secure financially, and to not worry about catching COVID-19.
Waiting for discomfort to end is so hard! But in the early morning hours, I was reminded of a beautiful promise:
He has made everything beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
God promises that He never leaves anything unfinished and that time in His hands is never wasted. While God did not create COVID-19 or any hard issue in your life, He knows what He is going to do with it – and the result will be restoration and beauty. The verse points to the fact that God’s timing in all things is perfect. He knows what He is doing!
I was reminded of another verse in John where Jesus himself said to his disciples, “My time has not yet come” (John 7:6). Jesus Himself was on a Divine time schedule!
Jesus knew this and trusted the Father would achieve His best results when that time came to fruition. Jesus surrendered to trusting His Father knows best. He did not circumvent it. He did not fight it. He relaxed into it, surrendered and hopeful. And look at the outcome! He saved the world!!
God will use COVID-19 to accomplish His bigger plans and the plans He has for you personally.
What is the bigger plan He may be orchestrating within you during this pandemic crisis?
If Jesus had to wait, why would we not have to do the same? Let’s imitate Christ, relaxing into God’s timing, surrendering to His will, and trusting Him to use this for our good.
But how exactly?
One simple way to practice surrendering and submitting is by focusing on our breathing.
Discomfort, control, sadness, anger, or fear can easily rob our peace, leading to shallow, fast, anxious breathing.
Conversely, full trust in God can be physically represented by taking slow, deep breaths; breaths that reflect trust and patience in hard times. Here is a practice to help you align your body with God by focusing on breathing intentionally slow and deep....and waiting for God's BEST timing!
Breathing exercise:
Sit in a comfortable position, in a space where you won't be interrupted.
Perhaps have some peaceful, instrumental music playing to set an intention and mood (we played "Love" by Bonita Curtis during class).
Begin taking slow and deep breaths. Perhaps count to four on each inhale, pause 1 second, and count to four for each exhale; fully filling and emptying out your lungs with each breath. Let your breath go out of your mouth and in through your nose.
Begin to meditate on each of the word sets below, breathing IN what you long for and breathing OUT what does not serve you. You can also allow your mind to imagine what each word looks like when exiting or entering your body.
peace/rest vs. fear/anxiety
gratitude vs. discontentment
surrender vs. control
acceptance vs. anger/frustration
His will and timing vs. your will and timing