Running … to Hope

Joe felt trapped. Instinctively, he ran. But things only worsened.

Most of us are like Joe. Parents blame and shame. Our teenagers resist and withdraw. Our aging (and maybe not so aging) bodies betray and disappoint. And so we run. Or maybe we hide or cover up or escape. It’s so difficult to face the hard things in life.

Running

When Joe ran from his problems, he initiated some costly consequences for himself and others. In a sense, he did escape from his original dilemma but only to bring on additional problems.

But some situations cannot be escaped from—physically, at least. When I listened to Joe’s story, I identified with the desire to run. But I can’t run. My most pressing problems are within an inescapable part of my earthly tent of a body. It’s simply not possible to run or hide or escape. Perhaps that is God’s mercy.

Crying Out

When Joe ran, his situation went from bad to worse. Although he was running from God’s presence, he discovered it is impossible to escape God. Which was a good thing because God heard his cries in a most unconventional of prayer closets—in the dark, acid-filled belly of a big fish. Yes, “Joe” is the Old Testament prophet Jonah.

When we try to escape from our afflictions, we may pretend or lie, or we may rely on temporal things instead of God’s help. In doing so, our situations will only become more desperate. Fortunately, that may land us in a more conducive place for crying out to God.

Receiving God’s Mercy and Grace

When “Joe” (or Jonah as we now know him), cried out to God, God heard and showed Jonah great mercy. The fish spit Jonah out—on land so he didn’t even have to swim for it. Then God gave Jonah another chance to face his problem the right way and not run.

When, in my desperation and despair, I cry out to God, I sense His grace. I pour out my heart, expressing my thoughts, fears, and anxieties. Often I am reminded of a scripture to cling to, providing strength, comfort, and hope.

The turning point is always an awareness of need, that I am not independent. Part of me desires absolute independence.

But all of us—even the strongest, the smartest, the toughest, and the most capable are dependant. Independence is an illusion. Every time we take a breath, sip water, swallow food, or succumb to sleep, our bodies testify we are dependant. More then our physical dependance, we need God for our spiritual needs. So when the problems of life create a greater awareness of our need of God, it is God’s mercy and an opportunity to receive His grace.

In Summary—An Honest Assessment

Does knowing all of these truths stop my struggles and restrain my heart from its desires to run from problems? No.

But knowing and rehearsing these truths—that I can’t run from God’s work in my life, that God is waiting to hear my dependance-confessing cries, and that God’s grace is just a breath away—reminds me I can choose to persevere in the hard times and find comfort in God’s presence. And, in doing so, I choose hope.

When you feel like running, run to God and find hope.