The last two years have left many of us out of breath, literally and figuratively. In fact, one of the major symptoms of COVID-19 was, and still is, shortness of breath. While most people recovered from the virus, I personally know a few people whose recovery took a bit longer as they pushed through low oxygen levels attached to breathing support machines or ventilators. Unfortunately, I know a few others did not recover at all.
For those of us who remained, it has been a whirlwind of emotions mourning the loss of loved ones, learning to overcome new habits, adjusting to a new normal and the list goes on.
The song, “Breathe Again,” could not have been written at a better time. It not only fits our current context, but it gives language to anyone who has felt shortness of breath physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually in the last couple of years (or ever).
Even I, approximately three years ago, had the dreaded experience of having anxiety attacks. I have never experienced anything like that, and it turned out that it was caused by stress combined with high sodium foods and caffeine. Thankfully once I removed them from my diet, the attacks went away. However, there are so many causes for anxiety, such as trauma, financial concerns, an upcoming performance, etc. Whatever the reason may be, the feeling it produces is overwhelming and scary.
We were sitting in the living room of my friend Sergio Estrada’s house for a songwriting retreat when the idea of the song came about. We finished an intimate time of worship, and as we brainstormed ideas for a song topic, our friend Jacob Herron submitted an idea which is the bridge to the song. The lyrics say:
When I’m suffocating, Your love is all that I need
You’re giving me my breath back, You’re giving me my breath back
When I feel I’m drowning, I know Your love surrounds me
You’re giving me my breath back, You’re giving me my breath back
The lyrics combined with the melody he was singing pulled on my heart strings and gave language to how I was feeling. I had a vision of me laying on the ground, pressed down by an unexplainable weight, so I sang:
I feel the weight come off my shoulders
I can lift my hands and praise
I can lift my voice and sing
I can breathe again!
I felt the release. Declaring “I can breathe again” from the top of our breath-filled lungs became our anthem.
Having breath is the essence of life. Without it, we do not exist. Job 12:10 says “In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.” We see this truth affirmed in the creation story where God formed the man from dust and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils and the man became a living creature (Genesis 2:7). Jesus breathed on his disciples to receive the Holy Spirit (John 20:21-22). All Scripture is God breathed, according to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, and the psalmist calls on everything that has breath to praise the Lord (Psalm 150:6).
We pray that every lyric and melody in this song gives you new breath of insight, a peace that surpasses understanding, inspiration to live, and a little glimpse of God’s glory.
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