Learning to Breathe in the Chaos
Life doesn’t always give you time to prepare for the storm. Sometimes it hits without warning, and before you know it, you’re standing in the middle of chaos — phone buzzing, people needing you, bad news dropping like rain.
I’ve been in those moments where my chest feels tight, my thoughts race, and I can’t tell where to start. And in those moments, I’ve learned something that’s kept me steady: you can’t control the storm, but you can learn to breathe in it.
When the Storm Feels Bigger Than You
The chaos can take different shapes — a crisis at work, a family conflict, an unexpected loss.
And it doesn’t just hit one part of your life; it seeps into everything. Sleep gets harder. Patience wears thin. Hope feels small.
In the past, I would fight to keep up — working harder, running faster, trying to fix everything at once. But all that did was wear me down even more.
It took me a while to realize that sometimes the most faithful thing you can do in a storm is to slow down enough to breathe.
Breathing as a Step of Faith
Breathing sounds simple — too simple. But here’s the truth: when you slow your breath, you’re telling your body and your mind, “We’re not going to be ruled by fear right now.”
It’s not about pretending the chaos isn’t real. It’s about making space for God’s peace to meet you in the middle of it.
Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
Breathing is one way I anchor my mind back to trust.
Three Ways I Practice Breathing in the Chaos
Pause Before Responding
When everything feels urgent, I’ve learned not to react right away. Even a ten-second pause to breathe in and out can keep me from saying or doing something I’ll regret.Pair Breathing with Prayer
As I breathe in, I’ll think, “Lord, I receive Your peace.”
As I breathe out, I’ll think, “I release my fear.”
Simple, but powerful.Notice the Miracle Moments Around Me
Sometimes it’s the small things — sunlight through the blinds, a text from a friend, a quiet moment in the car. Pausing to notice them doesn’t erase the chaos, but it shifts my focus from what’s out of control to what’s still good.
Faith in the Middle of the Mess
Slowing down enough to breathe is an act of faith. It’s saying, “I trust that God is working, even if I’m not doing anything big right now.”
It reminds me that my worth isn’t tied to fixing everything or holding it all together. My worth is secure because I’m His, and He’s in this with me.
Why This Matters
Chaos will come — we can’t avoid it. But when you practice breathing in the middle of it, you train your heart to respond instead of react.
You give yourself the space to remember who God is and what He’s promised.
And sometimes, that’s the very thing that helps you keep going when everything else is shaking.
You’re Not Alone in the Storm
If you’re standing in the middle of your own chaos today, you don’t have to have it all together.
You don’t have to fix it all right now.
Take one breath. Then another. And in that space, let His peace meet you.
The storm may not pass right away — but you can have calm in the middle of it.
If you need a reminder to slow down in your own storms, I made a free Breathing Prayer Card you can keep on your desk, in your car, or by your bed. It’s a simple, beautiful way to invite God’s peace into your everyday.
[Get the Prayer Card →]