Over the week of New Years, we had a scare. Our three year old, Jet, wasn’t feeling well. A day later, we noticed he was struggling to breathe and was clearly in rough shape. A doctor’s office visit sent us straight to the hospital. Jet was immediately put on oxygen and an IV, then hooked up to all sorts of monitors. A bad case of RSV and bacterial pneumonia put us in the hospital for the next six days.
I was so relieved when they put my little buddy on oxygen. His struggle to breathe was brutal and I figured as soon as he was on oxygen, he’d breathe easier. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case - he continued to struggle.
Our walk with God is similar. The teens we work with are similar. When we say yes to following Jesus, the Holy Spirit enters us… the breath of life enters us. Just like I thought there would be an immediate change when Jet put on that oxygen mask, we expect an immediate change in the students we work with (or in ourselves). We think the struggle will end when the breath of life enters us. Typically that just isn’t the case.
I’ve seen countless students say yes to following Jesus only to continue to struggle. The sin continues, the pain lingers, and the mess remains. BUT, there is progress.
With each day that passed, Jet was able to breath easier. The nurses periodically turned down his oxygen until he was breathing “room air.” Progress! As students follow Jesus, we see progress. We see things that once consumed them begin to fade. We see them breathe in the love of Jesus until it starts to seem like second nature. They move forward, nearer to The Father.
May we never take a breath without being fully aware of the One who gives us that breath in the first place. Thanks for partnering with us to help teens breathe in new life. Your prayers and funds are life-giving!