My thirteen-year-old daughter was hospitalized in 2021. The doctors pulled me into a private room to discuss the severity of her condition, expressing deep concerns for her safety and health. I was overwhelmed by a complete loss of control and a devastating sense of uncertainty.

Anxiety wasn’t a new emotion for me, but this level of pain and helplessness was. I tried to pray, but my mind was only filled with worry and fear. I could feel the roots of my faith coming loose.

In that hospital room, breath prayer became my lifeline. I had nothing left but two small lines from Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all I need.” I breathed and prayed my way through that crisis, clinging to the truth of those few words.

Breath prayer became a powerful practice that helped me survive incredibly stressful and difficult times.

But the hard season didn’t end for my family. Over the years, I had to find a way to be okay, even when the circumstances surrounding me were not. I needed more than a lifeline to tether me to Christ; I needed an anchor to secure me in His presence and steady me in His Word. I needed to be grounded and rooted in something—in Someone—stronger than myself and greater than my circumstances.

Meditation became that anchor for me.

Meditation, in a general sense, involves mental and physical techniques that train the mind to focus and to be fully present in the moment. Christian meditation, particularly Scripture meditation, is an ancient spiritual discipline deeply rooted in the Bible and Christian tradition. Meditation is a holy habit that plays an important role in our spiritual growth.

In fact, the Bible encourages us to meditate regularly—to focus our thoughts on Scripture, allowing it to sink deep into our hearts and change us from the inside out:

• “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it” (Joshua 1:8).
• “But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night” (Psalm 1:2).
• “O God, we meditate on Your unfailing love” (Psalm 48:9).

Meditation didn’t change my circumstances, but it changed me within my circumstances. It shifted my focus off the storms and onto the One who walks on the waves and stays with me through it all.

Meditation is a gift you can give yourself today—a gentle invitation to quiet the noise around and within you, to tune your heart to God’s presence, and to focus your mind on His Word. Whether you’re weathering a difficult storm, feeling overwhelmed by current events, or anxious about what lies ahead, try taking a few moments today to slow your pace and silence the noise. Breathe deeply and turn your focus to God’s ever-present presence with you, right here and right now.

You can walk any hard road that lies ahead because you are not alone. God loves you. He’s with you. He’s holding you. And He won’t ever, ever let go.

Includes material from Present in Prayer by Jennifer Tucker. © 2024 by Jennifer Tucker. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. HarperCollinsChristian.com.

*For deeper reflection, listen to Psalm 1 today!