If it feels like you're fighting for your life right now,
This is for you.
If your mind feels loud,
Like it's flooded with thoughts that just won't stop,
One after another,
Telling you things that leave you feeling small,
Forgotten and not enough.
If you feel like you're being pressed from every side,
Like life just keeps handing you one thing after another and you don't even have time to catch your breath in between.
If you feel stretched so thin,
Like you've gone past your limit,
Like you don't have anything left to give.
If you're afraid of what's coming,
Afraid of the future,
Afraid that things won't ever change and somewhere deep down you just want to give up,
Then just stay here.
You don't have to fix anything right now.
You don't have to find the strength.
You don't even have to have faith in this moment.
This meditation is inspired by scripture,
By God's heart towards you,
Especially in moments like this.
So just let yourself be held.
We're going to go slowly.
If you can,
Lie down for this meditation,
Somewhere where you can fully relax and let go without any distractions.
But if sitting feels better for you right now,
That's completely okay too.
Just choose a position that makes you feel most comfortable and relaxed.
Before we go any further,
Just take a moment to make yourself as comfortable as you can.
You might want to adjust your body slightly,
Shift your hips,
Move your legs,
Maybe soften your neck into the pillow underneath you.
There's no perfect position here.
I'll just give you some time to find a position that feels supportive.
Now begin to notice the surface beneath you,
The bed,
The floor,
Whatever is holding you right now.
Let yourself feel that support.
You don't have to hold yourself up,
You're being held.
And even here,
In something as simple as the ground underneath you,
You can let it remind you that you are not the one carrying everything,
That there is support beneath your life,
Even when you can't feel it.
And now let's just gently release any tension that you don't need to carry.
Soften your jaw,
Letting your teeth part slightly.
Relax your shoulders,
Allowing them to drop just a little heavier.
Unclench your hands,
Soften your palms and even your feet.
Let them relax,
Loose and heavy.
You don't have to do this perfectly,
Even a small softening is enough.
Now we'll just do a breathing technique to help your body relax a little further.
We'll inhale for four,
Hold for two and exhale for six.
Take a slow breath through your nose and gently exhale.
And again,
Breathing in and exhale.
One more time,
Inhale and exhale.
And right here,
In this exact place you're in,
You are not alone.
My beloved,
I see you,
Not the version of you that has it all together,
The real you,
The one who is barely holding on,
The one who feels like they are fighting for their life.
And in a way,
You are.
There are so many thoughts right now,
Aren't they?
One after another.
Maybe they sound like,
You're not going to make it,
You're too weak,
God has forgotten you,
Just give up.
But listen carefully,
Those are not your thoughts,
Those are weapons.
And I am your shield.
You feel small,
So small,
Like everything is pressing in on you.
But you are not small to me,
You are the reason I came.
I know you've forgotten who you are.
The weight of everything has made it hard to see clearly.
So let me remind you,
Not all at once,
Just one truth at a time.
You are not what you're going through,
You are the one I am bringing through it.
You are not your exhaustion,
You are the one I am renewing.
You are not your fear,
You are the one I am holding.
I know you want to give up,
I know that whisper.
The one that says nothing will change,
That this darkness has no end.
But darkness isn't dark to me,
And I am already in your tomorrow.
You feel stretched past your limits,
Pressed from every side.
Beloved,
This is where I meet you.
Not when you're strong,
Right here,
When you're done.
So you don't have to hold it all together anymore.
You can let go,
You can rest.
I am not asking you to fight harder.
I am asking you to let me fight for you.
Even here,
In the pressure,
In the fear,
In the unknown,
I am still leading you.
You have not gone beyond my reach.
You have not gone beyond my strength.
When you can't take another step,
I will carry you.
When you feel like you can't breathe,
I am breathing with you.
Slowly inhale and exhale.
When you have no words left,
That's okay.
You don't need them.
I am praying for you.
You are not alone in this.
I am here,
Even in the dark.
And I am not leaving.
So just hold on.
Not because you see the way out,
But because I do.
Morning is coming,
It's always coming.
Until then,
Just breathe.
Let yourself rest.
Let yourself be held.
You don't have to be strong right now.
I will be your strength.
You are held.
You are not alone.
And you are not going under.
And now,
Very gently,
We'll begin to come back.
There's no rush.
Nothing to force.
Just slowly bringing a little awareness back into your body.
You might begin by just noticing your feet again.
Just gently wiggle your toes.
Maybe gently moving your feet side to side.
Take a slightly deeper breath into your belly.
And exhale slowly.
Letting everything settle.
And as you come back,
You don't have to leave this place behind.
You can carry this with you.
The truth that you are held.
The truth that you are not alone.
If you're lying down,
You can gently roll onto one side.
Just rest there for a moment.
And when you're ready,
Slowly press yourself up to sitting.
And when it feels right,
You can softly open your eyes.
You made it through this moment.
And you are still being held.
I am holding you in my prayers.
You are not alone.
