For weeks I struggled to breathe, until it all changed one night

Four years ago, I began an intensive jogging programme to improve my fitness and energy.

But instead of becoming fitter, I became increasingly short of breath. In a cruel irony, I discovered that exercise-induced asthma was a thing.

I thought I had put my childhood asthma behind me. But it now it was back in waves of choking mucus that clogged my airways and prevented me from drawing a full breath.

As the asthma progressively tightened its grip, one night I found myself struggling more than usual to breathe. I was rushed to a 24-hour clinic where I was strapped to a nebuliser.

This brought only temporary relief. After that, I could barely walk – let alone jog – without having to rest after a short while.

After realising the problem wasn’t going away on its own, I saw an asthma specialist. I brought home an arsenal of pills and no fewer than two inhalers — an orange one for routine doses and a blue one for flare-ups.

Two weeks of gasping half-breaths followed. I wasn’t getting any better despite faithfully taking every dose of medicine. One night I could barely take in any air.

Jan, my wife, was deeply concerned. As we headed to see a doctor, a thought struck me.

All photos courtesy of Joshua Ng.

Unlike in the past, I hadn’t been able to cure my illness with medicine. Instead, my illness had worsened over my course of treatment.   

In desperation, we cried out to God. Jan and I began to sing worship song. As we sang, an odd thing happened.

I felt a denser — almost liquid — layer of air envelope me. I could breathe much more easily.

When we paused, I struggled to breathe again. When we resumed singing, the denser atmosphere returned and I could breathe well.

You’re here
With the hands of the Healer
With the power of Your Spirit
You’re all we need

Eventually, my breathing eased even when we weren’t singing.

I put Bethel Music’s Mention of Your Name on repeat, listening to words that took on new meaning as they spoke of what God was doing right then.

You’re here
With wonder-working power
Everything You breathe on
Coming back to life

From my miserable half-life of strangled breaths, I was finally able to draw a full breath and take in a satisfying lungful of air for the first time in a month.

I felt like I was returning to life.

At the mention of Your Name
Every chain will break
I know everything will change

More than physical healing, it was a pivotal moment in my life. Four years later, I recognise that as a time when everything changed for me.

I had read in the Bible that God heals, and heard many speak of God’s healing. But this was a clear and dramatic demonstration of God’s healing power in my own life.

Just like Job in the Bible, I can say: “My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.” 

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One night, Jan and I really felt God’s presence with us.

You’re here
With the grace of the Saviour
With the heart of the Father
You’re all we need

I woke up the next day with what felt like a brand new pair of lungs.

Some difficulty breathing remained, but over the next few days, it completely disappeared.

I was even able to resume my favourite walks in our nature reserves.

The song ends with the words: “You’re just a breath away.”

Ordinarily, I would have hardly paid attention to that particular phrase. But that night it took on new meaning for me.

Having struggled for breath and received it anew, I see every breath I breathe as a gift from God.

This is an excerpt of an article that first appeared in Thir.st.

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