Many times it is really a challenge not knowing what is coming next, why things have to change and why change can hurt sometimes and be very painful. When I try to start and figure these kind of things out in my mind, it only gets more muddy, I get more discouraged and I start to really become wade down by my circumstances around me…but then something happens…
A question comes out of the whirlwind of my own pain, confusion and the frustration of all that is going on…a question that stops me just about dead in my tracts, if I chose to listen to it….a question that I don’t like to answer, because of the truth behind it …a question that comes from a very close and personal Friend, that really cares for me… a question that comes in the form of a gentle but sincere voice that asks….
"Who Are You Running From?"
You might not think that this is a very important question or that it is abstract and kind of off the wall…but let me put it into the perspective of who is asking this question.
Recently, there has been a lot going on in my life…lets just say a lot of change and with change challenge. I don’t understand it and I can’t even rap my mind around it, so therefore many times I just start "running from it". I try to not think about it, I try to do things so that I don’t have to stop, be still and think through what I am really facing. I start making excuses on why I don’t really need to confront it and why the problem is not that important.
But as this continues, then will come the fruit of my “running away” from my problems........... no joy, total unrest in my soul, painful thoughts and bitterness that becomes read flags to me showing that something is not right. It is at this point where I finally decide to ask the Lord the question, "What is going on?" Then immediately the answer comes back to me from my Heavenly Father saying, “Who are you running from?”. Ouch! The Lord doesn’t really have to say anything more, He just said it all. The problem is not my circumstances or the people around me, it’s me.
The problem lies within me not being willing to FULLY surrender, die and give up my life so that Christ can live through me. I have lost time, peace and joy from running from the Lord because I was fearful of what He would tell me…but am I now willing to obey?
For you, I hope that even before you get to the point of thinking about “running” from your pressures, struggles or challenges in life, that you look first choose to your Father who is just waiting to speak to you. Yes, His answer will not be the easiest way but it is the guaranteed way to freedom! Do we trust our Father, our Daddy and best Friend? Can He do all that He says He will do for those that give their lives fully to His control? For me, the answer is YES, because I have NEVER found Him unfaithful!!! J
My challenge not only to myself but also all those that read this would be found in Hebrews 12:1-8,
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”
May the Lord bless you all with such an intimately burning passion for Him, that not even the gates of Hell can prevail against it!
