The Difference Between Being Alive And Living Fully Alive

by | Feb 8, 2019 | Bring Your Own Bible and Beverage

Alive. Yes, you and I are alive… we’re breathing in and breathing out. Most of us don’t even think about it because it’s pretty easy for us to do. My dad, however, had emphysema, and breathing in and breathing out wasn’t so easy for him. He struggled many days to breathe.

But, for most of us who have healthy lungs, this breathing in and breathing out thing is simple. God designed our bodies to draw in oxygen (breathe clean air in), and exhale carbon dioxide (breathe toxic air out). You know? It doesn’t take much effort for most of us, so it’s no wonder some of us may have simply settled in doing just that in this life.

Breathing in and breathing out.

Staring at our phones, breathing in and breathing out.

Binge watching on Netflix, breathing in and breathing out.

Punching in at work and punching out, breathing in and breathing out.

Staying in our comfortable routines, breathing in and breathing out.

Doing just what we need to do to keep our bodies alive, breathing in and breathing out.

Yes, we are alive. But, are we fully alive?

There’s a difference, you know.

Being alive is comfortable. It’s predictable. It’s routine. And, it most often doesn’t take much effort.

Living fully alive, however, is different. It’s active, thriving, vigorous, strong. It’s moving, it’s lively. It takes effort.

The difference between being alive and living fully alive.

Instead of just breathing in and out, living fully alive can cause moments that take breath away. Those amazing, full of wonder, memory-making moments.

Living fully alive is what we do with our breaths.

It’s being present in the moment. It’s appreciating the good as well as the bad, because to be fully alive is to experience both. It’s in the good that we celebrate and in the not-so-good that we grow.

Living fully alive is when your cheeks hurt from smiling and your sides ache from laughing. It’s causing the ends of someone else’s frown to turn upwards.

It’s finding hope in the pain and comfort in loss. Loving even though we risk getting hurt. Being open to trying something new.  

Living fully alive is learning from our mistakes and picking ourselves back up to try again. It’s giving ourselves permission to fail and fall, but to not stay there.

It’s living to serve God and others as we remove the focus from ourselves.

It’s in coming to grips with the truth there’s more to life that what we see on this earth yet understanding how we live in this life matters in the next. Living fully alive embraces the truth of Jesus, knowing where we are headed is beyond anything we can ever imagine.

It’s about letting go of the goal of comfort to exchange it for the adventure of life.

For some time, my heart has been known to beat to its own drum. My doc determined a cardio ablation would likely fix my issues, so early on a Monday morning in November, my husband and I arrived at the hospital, ready to put my strange heart rate behind me.

But I was nervous. I was apprehensive about something going wrong. Bill asked me, “What’s the worst thing that could happen?” I answered, “I could die.” He responded wisely, “You know where you’re going at the end of your life, so you win either way.”

True. But I wasn’t ready to die yet. I still had so much left on my bucket list!

And, in those early morning hours I realized I had, in a way, somehow stopped living fully alive. It happened gradually and subtly, and it was masked with the busyness of life. I didn’t recognize how I slipped into just surviving. Just getting through the day. Living for the weekend. Just trying to remain comfortable.

Just getting by isn’t any way to live.

Living for the weekend misses five incredible days of the week. Remaining comfortable doesn’t glorify God. My desire to live fully alive overwhelmed my soul as they prepped me for my ablation.

I woke up in pain sometime through the procedure. To my left was a big screen and I watched the rhythm strip of my heart. I was glad to see the lines go up and down (I knew I was still alive!), but I thought the pain coming from my heart was going to be the thing that killed me. Tears began to form and stream down my face. The anesthesiologist wiped my tears, and the next thing I knew I woke up a couple hours later.

Thankfully, fully alive.

My electrophysiologist said my procedure went well, but I might need an additional procedure in the future. But, I’m thankful God used this experience to wake me up to the reality there’s more to life than what I was living.

I don’t want to just be alive. I want to be fully alive.

You too, right?

For the next four days we’re going to look at four ways to live fully alive… live authentic, live open, live fearless, live uncomfortable. I invite you back as we dive into each one individually in the days to come.

In the meantime, ask yourself, am I just breathing in and breathing out? Have I slipped into just getting by?

Thanks for joining me today. May God bless you as you live fully alive!

This material is a continuation from yesterday’s post and was originally presented at our Bring Your Own Bible and Beverage event, Fully Alive. Find out more about BYOB and B here.

Previous Post
Next Post

Looking for more?

Enter your email to instantly access my FREE RESOURCES - exclusively for my readers!

Your information is safe with me and will never be shared.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Related posts

Thanks for stopping by.

I’d love to hear from you!

2 Comments

  1. Cindy

    I am very comfortable in my retired life and I find myself conflicted. Is it ok to do less, stay in, linger at this stage of life or does God expect more? I think it is your question exactly! Am I living or living fully? I’m looking forward to this series!

    Reply
    • Julie Lefebure

      Cindy, I can imagine the conflicts you might feel inside these days. From what I see, you’re living fully alive. God will prompt you if He’s calling you to step out somewhere. I’m praying for that today, if that’s the case. God bless you, friend!

      Reply

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Live Authentic - 4 Ways To Live Fully Alive - Julie Lefebure - […] Check out my previous post on this subject here. […]

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Just for you!

Real encouragement, updates, and free resources from me. 

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Pin It on Pinterest

Julie Lefebure
The difference between being alive and living fully alive.
🌿Ready for a renewal month?

✨️Here are 5 Things to Do in March (from your Abundant Life Mentor):

1️⃣ Renew Your Mindset – Let go of limiting thoughts and embrace God's truth about who you are. Replace negativity with Scripture that speaks life over you! (Romans 12:2)

2️⃣ Declutter Your Heart – Just like we spring clean our homes, ask God to reveal anything weighing you down—unforgiveness, fear, distractions—and surrender it to Him.

3️⃣ Step Out of Your Comfort Zone – Growth happens when we stretch! Say 'yes' to something that challenges you this month—whether it's speaking up, trying something new, or trusting God in a deeper way.

4️⃣ Invest in Your Spiritual Growth – Make time for intentional renewal. Whether through mentoring, a Bible study, or deeper prayer, prioritize your walk with God.

5️⃣ Live with Purpose – Every day matters. Ask, How can I make today count for God's kingdom? A simple act of kindness, an encouraging word, or time spent with Him can make all the difference.

🌿 Which one speaks to you the most this season? Let me know below! ⬇️

💛 If you’re ready to step into renewal and grow in faith, I’d love to walk alongside you as your mentor. Learn more about my 1:1 mentoring and how we can journey together → @julielefebure.

#renewal #abundantlife #abundantlifementor #livefully #march #christianmentor
🌿✨ Introducing Abundant Life Mentoring! ✨🌿

I’m thrilled to officially launch Abundant Life Mentoring—a space where women can step into the fullness of who God created them to be! 💛

Too often, we settle for less than the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10). We get stuck in doubt, distractions, or simply surviving instead of truly thriving. But what if you had someone to walk alongside you, encourage you, and help you live with purpose, joy, and confidence in Christ?

That’s exactly what Abundant Life Mentoring is all about. It’s a personalized, faith-filled journey designed to help you:
✨ Break free from what's holding you back
✨ Align your thoughts and actions with God’s truth
✨ Step boldly into the life He has for you

💥 Special Launch Offer! 💥
Now through March 15, get $20 off your first mentoring session! 🎉 If you've been thinking about investing in your spiritual growth, now is the perfect time.

If you're ready to embrace abundant living, I’d love to come alongside you! Let’s chat about how mentoring can help you move forward. 💬

📩 DM me
It took me 186 episodes, but I finally got my husband on the Encouragement for Real Life Podcast this week! 

We talked about so much in 30 minutes, and I might appreciate most what Bill shared about the moment after he got hit by a car on his bicycle as he was lying on the side of the road, thinking his life was over.

It's worth a listen, and I pray it blesses and encourages you today!

Find it wherever you listen to podcasts or @julielefebure.

#encouragement #podcast #encouragementforreallifepodcast #guestepisode #abundantlife #tandembicycling
Here's a life hack for you.

Don't miss what's happening in this moment by worrying about or looking too forward into the future. We've been given the gift of today.

Right now matters.

I'm @julielefebure, and I help women live the abundant and joy-filled lives they are designed to live. Follow for more.

#abundantlife #joy #rightnowmatters #lifehack #today #encouragement
Next time you are overwhelmed, remember this.

Leave the stress behind and trust God with it all.

This is part of living an abundant life!

Follow for more. 

#abundantlife #encouragement #Godhasitfiguredout #nostress #trustGod
A little encouragement for those of us feeling exhausted or discouraged today.

You don't have to do it all.

God is with you, friend. Reach out to Him.

I'm @julielefebure, and I help women live the abundant and joy-filled lives they are designed to live. Follow for more. 

#abundantlife #encouragement #letgo #Godiswithyou #giveittoGod #youdonthavetodoitall #takeabreath
What are we saying today--to ourselves and others?

This matters.

Speak life = abundant life

Follow @julielefebure for more ways to live an abundant life.

#speaklife #ourwordsmatter #encouragement #abundantlife #thismatters
Could you use some encouragement in your relationships and in your life?

My guest on the podcast today is none other than my husband, Bill Lefebure! 

We discuss our love, our season of life, our imperfect marriage, our empty nest, and more. Bill and I also offer some relationship advice based on what God has taught us through the years.

We pray this episode blesses you! Find it wherever you listen to podcasts or @julielefebure. 

#podcast #encouragementforreallifepodcast #newepisode #guestepisode #encouragement #hope #relationships #marriage
Share This