The God who gives us breath
The creation account described in the Book of Genesis features God “breathing life” into human beings (Genesis 2:7).
The word for “breath” in the Old Testament (Hebrew) and the New Testament (Greek) is a symbol for life. God is seen as granting not just the breath that inflates our lungs, but also the kind of life that gives us direction and purpose.
So, when those things in life come along that try to take away our strength and zap us of our purpose, we have a place to turn. God, the giver of breath, can remind us to slow down and breathe while recognizing his presence in our lives.
God’s presence can also remind us that even our own flaws and mistakes do not have to rob us of a life filled with direction and purpose.
A well-known author and Episcopal priest named Frederick Buechner once said, “The worst thing isn’t the last thing about the world. It is the next-to-last thing. The last thing is the best.”
He was describing both the reality of the world we live in, filled with challenges, obstacles and even tragedies. At the same time, he is illustrating a deep faith in the God who is the author of life and who is filled with compassion and grace.
The God who gives us breath is the God who can sustain us when the world tries to deprive us of our strength. The God who has a purpose for our lives – who values us deeply – is the God who will have the last word. And if we will trust this God, the last word will be a glorious one.
