“just breathe” by jonathan lee

A Few Words from Jonathan

The world is groaning right now. There is a lot of division, anger, misunderstandings, and unforgiveness.

It’s really hard to see people that we call family, friends, neighbors, or even pastors and realize that we might be on two different sides of a coin. How do we reconcile this? How do we move forward?

It’s Jesus. It’s always been Jesus. When we come to Him together, there is healing. If there is correction that is needed (and there always is for every one of us), Jesus will speak to it, and if we trust Him and obey Him, He will lead us to life.

So, take a deep breath and just breathe. It won’t be as hard as you think. If you lean into Jesus, then you can forgive those that you don’t understand and those that don’t understand you. You can forgive those that you don’t know and those that you do—the ones that have hurt you on the surface and the ones that have hurt you deeply.

In the late Tim Keller’s book Forgive, he says this:

“Forgiveness, then, is a form of voluntary suffering. In forgiving, rather than retaliating, you make a choice to bear the cost”

How can we do this? How did Jesus do this?

“Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all” - Isaiah 53:4-6 (NLT)

This is how. This is the very model of forgiveness. This is just as the late Tim Keller says: “In forgiving, rather than retaliating, you make a choice to bear the cost.”

Why did Jesus bear this cost?

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” -John 3:16 (NLT)

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” -Romans 5:8 (NLT)

That is why. His love for His creation has no end. He was and is willing to carry the cost for our sins so that we can know Him, love Him, and have life with Him.

So how can we show this kind of love and forgiveness?

Well, first, we can start by receiving God’s forgiveness for the things we have done.

“But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him”- Daniel 9:9 (NLT)

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” - 1 John 1:9 (NASB1995)

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” -Psalm 103:12 (NASB1995)

We must first recognize how broken we are and the hurt that we have caused. We let God forgive us and help us walk in forgiveness. Then we give Him our burdens—the things we were never meant to carry. (Read Matthew 11:28-30)

Jesus purchased our pardon for the things we have done and that have been done to us. He also purchased us freedom and healing from the resulting hurt.

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light”- Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

When we give Him our burdens and trust Him, He says: “Let me teach you.” That is the key. Come to Him, be forgiven, and learn how to let it go and how to forgive. Take His yoke upon you, for it is lighter than the one you carry.

In the back half of the bridge of this song, it says: “It’s okay; do you know that you’ve been forgiven? Release it and go start forgiving those that have hurt you, and start breathing again”

Friends, this isn’t easy, but it is necessary. It’s a process that we all walk daily with the Lord. We absolutely need Him to show us where we need forgiveness and where we are wrong, and then ask for grace to extend that to others. But if we let it go, give it to Him, and trust Him—let Him correct us and teach us—then we will be free.

It might be the hardest thing you ever have to do, but just take it one day at a time and remember to just breathe.

chord charts

LYRICS

Verse 1
I know your story, you are the hurt one
A victim of living on this broken earth
You might feel damaged
By the weight of this burden
What you are given is not what you deserve

Pre Chorus
It might be true that forgiveness is freedom
But the image of loving the guilty
Just leaves you undone.

Chorus 1
Just breathe
It won’t be as hard as you think
You’ll feel the weight of the world
Lifted off of your shoulders
Just think
You’ve been the one in need
Of mercy and grace undeserved
Helping you to start over
The Father forgives
He teaches to forgive!

Verse 2
Do you know His story?
He was the victim
He made the hands that,
Then turned to hit him
Nailed to the cross
He said "Father forgive them"
And it was finished
The death you deserved

Bridge 1
It’s okay, the tears are releasing the tension!
Just know child that you have permission!
To grieve and let your heart start beating again!

Bridge 2
It’s okay, do you know
That you’ve been forgiven?
Release it and go start forgiving
Those that have hurt you!
Start breathing again!

Tag 1
Start breathing again!
Start breathing again!

Bridge 3
It’s okay, do you know
That you’ve been forgiven?
Release it and go start forgiving
Those that have hurt you!
Start breathing again!

CREDITS:

WRITERS: Jonathan Lee, Jade Lundgren, Cliff Preston

PRODUCERS: JUBILEE MUSIC CO.

MASTERED BY joe causey AT voyager mastering

MIXED BY DANIEL JOHNSON

photography: william read

layout: daniel riddle

jonathan lee BIO

Jonathan Lee McElhenny is a husband, father, pastor, worship leader and songwriter. But when asked to describe who he is, he answers, “matchmaker.” “I was created to worship, and to lead others in worship,” he says. “I like to think of myself as a matchmaker between God and man in partnership with The Holy Spirit. I want more than anything for people to have a true revelation of who God is because when people truly see Jesus, it changes them forever. That is what I am called to do. People many times have told me that my music helps them see Jesus, There is nothing better than that to me.”

Jonathan’s focus on making Jesus famous has attracted many talented artists to record songs he’s written. These artists include the Newsboys, For King & Country, Laura Story, Phillips, Craig & Dean, People & Songs, Jeff Deyo, Aaron Shust, Tricia Brock, Melanie Tierce, Rebecca St. James, Selah, Jordan Merritt, Acquire The Fire and others. Three of those songs have been nominated for four Dove Awards (Worship Song of the Year for “When The Stars Burn Down” by Travis Cottrell and Phillips, Craig & Dean, Inspirational Song of the year for ‘More And More Of You’ by Selah, Song of the Year and Pop Song of the Year for “Proof Of Your Love” by for King & Country.)

(Added Note- “When The Stars Burn Down” was number 1 on the charts inspirational Christian Radio.) “You Are My Shepherd” and “The Altar” by Tricia Brock were in the top 5 of inspirational Christian Radio along with “More and More Of You” by Selah which was also in the top 5 of inspirational Christian Radio. “Proof Of Your Love” by For King And Country was in the top of Christian Radio. “You Are My Shepherd,” “When The Stars Burn Down” and “Proof Of Your Love “have all won Sesac Awards.

McElhenny’s success is well-deserved, according to those who know him. “Jonathan is someone that I’ve written some of my best songs with.” Says co-writer, friend and label-head of People & Songs, Jennie Lee Riddle. “It’s a true honor to serve and help send him out as a blessing for such a time as this.” McElhenny is a highly successful songwriter, known as “Jonathan Lee”. And yet, he obeyed the urging of the Holy Spirit and transitioned from the road to full time pastoring in 2016. He says. “I want to leave a legacy that leads people to Jesus, and pastoring helps expand the Kingdom exponentially by helping others around me to grow in Christ. I love it."

Jonathan’s songs, co-written with notables Benji Cowart, David Moffitt, Chad Cates, Jennie Lee Riddle, Richie Fike, BJ Putnam, Doug Engquist, Corey Voss, Jordan Merritt, and Jared Anderson, bring the worshipper back to the basics as a follower of Christ. If the track record is any indication, Jonathan Lee McElhenny’s music will continue to match the hearts of men and women to the heart of a loving Savior.