Catching Your Breath

Life has seasons when catching your breath feels nearly impossible. Not because you are running a marathon or climbing a mountain, but because the weight of responsibilities, deadlines, and expectations presses in from every direction. For me, that season arrived during my summer semester as I began my journey toward a graduate certificate in theology. I started with so much excitement, ready to dive into the richness of God’s Word and the wisdom of the church throughout history. I imagined hours of study filled with joy, insights flowing easily, and papers that reflected my passion for learning. But reality looked very different. As the weeks unfolded, I fell behind. What seemed manageable at the beginning quickly became overwhelming, and before long I was one, sometimes even two weeks behind.

Each late assignment carried a penalty, and my grades sank lower with every submission. I watched helplessly as my GPA slipped further and further away from what I had worked so hard to achieve. The weight of failure settled heavy on me, pressing down until I could barely breathe. And that’s when the enemy’s voice grew louder. He whispered constantly: “You’re going to fail. You’re wasting your time. Why not just give up?” Those words echoed in my mind when I sat at my desk at midnight, staring at half-finished assignments. They met me when I opened my laptop each morning, knowing I was already behind before the day even began. The temptation was real, and part of me wanted to surrender, walk away, and accept defeat. But deep inside, I knew God had called me to this season of study. Quitting was not an option.

In my exhaustion, I cried out to the Lord. I poured out my frustration, my disappointment, and my fear. And He met me. Not by instantly fixing my grades or removing the struggle, but by giving me the strength to persevere when I had none left. He gave me clarity when my mind was clouded with discouragement. He reminded me that my worth was not tied to my GPA and that faithfulness mattered more than perfection. Slowly, He shifted my perspective.

As I calmed my anxious heart, I began asking a new question: “What does God want me to learn here?” That question changed everything. Each assignment became less about checking off requirements and more about letting God teach me. Sometimes that meant sitting longer with Scripture, letting the Spirit highlight truths I had overlooked. Other times it meant wrestling with theologians whose words stretched me beyond my comfort zone. Even in my weariness, God was shaping me through the discipline of study itself.

What I gained during that season was greater than any grade could reflect. I found perseverance forged in fire, because pressing forward when everything in you wants to quit changes you. I found humility in acknowledging my limits and admitting I could not do this in my own strength. I found faith that grew deeper as I leaned on God instead of myself. And I found wisdom – not just from books or lectures, but from walking through the struggle with God by my side.

The truth is, I did not finish the semester with great grades. In fact, I failed one of my classes, and I had to prepare myself to retake it in the Fall. But instead of looking back with shame, I now see that semester as one of the most transformative in my walk with Christ. The enemy told me I would fail, and my transcript may show a failing grade, but by God’s grace, I refused to give up. And now, my heart carries a greater testimony than any grade could display. Success, I realized, is not always measured by GPA or accolades. Sometimes success looks like simply showing up, pressing on, and choosing faithfulness when everything around you screams defeat.

If you are in a season where it feels like you cannot catch your breath, where failure seems certain and giving up feels easier, let me encourage you: do not quit. Lean into God’s strength. Ask Him what He wants you to learn in this very moment, even if the outcome looks different than you imagined. Our God is faithful. He does not waste our tears, our struggles, or even our failures. In Him, no effort is wasted and no season is without purpose. In Him, we find our breath.

Have you ever walked through a season where it felt impossible to “catch your breath”? What pressures or responsibilities made it difficult? When you feel like you are falling behind, what lies or discouragements does the enemy try to whisper to you? Where in your life right now might God be calling you to focus less on “results” and more on faithfulness? Please share in the comments.