Running.

 Running

Little kids run from fear, they run from pain, they throw a tantrum and storm off and run away. Looking for their contentment in the next shiny new thing they see. Adults do this too. We are always looking for the new thing, the next thing, the better thing, the best thing. The thing that will satisfy. Finally a shiny new outward adornment. A new hairstyle, some new jewelry, a new car, a new boat, a new house. Why do we do this? Why is it that the American dream is to have and to want more? If you give a mouse a cookie, he is going to want some milk and then another cookie. It’s the oldest story from the beginning of time. Never enough, never satisfied, always searching for the next new thing. Why do we do this? Is it because we are running from something, thinking that redoing the outside will finally make our inside new? Why is it so hard to stop running? Why is it so hard to rest? I ask myself this question and I find that I run away from pain, I run away from my thoughts, I run away from the past. Why do I do this? If I know who my God is and that He takes care of me, is taking care of me, and has renewed me from the past and that I am enough simply because I am covered by His blood and He is enough, then why am I running? What is my gain? Operating out of this place, at this pace, always leaves me unsatisfied and exhausted. Once I finally stop and sit alone with the Lord, I ask what is going on? He shows me things. He does not criticize my lack of faith, he does not condemn me for my mistakes, He simply holds me. In His arms is where I find rest and satisfaction. Why is this place so hard to get to? I think it is because this is where I face my deepest pain. I can’t run from God, I can’t hide it anymore, whatever I’m running from stops with me. And I am faced with it and I am terrified. But, I am not alone. The Lord sits with me, He fights with me and even though I lose, He wins. His strength is sufficient for thee. I think this place is so terrifying because when we stop we finally have to admit who we have become apart from God. Apart from Him I can do nothing, even my good works are like dirty rags and so when I am not remaining in Him, I start to look really ugly. There have been times when I have finally stopped running on empty, running on my own and I am absolutely ashamed of the person I have become. It is so scary to stop and face that with God, and face God. But, when I do finally stop running, God always does what I least expect Him to do. He comforts me, He holds me, and He weeps with me. He teaches me and reminds me of who He is and what he did for me on the cross. As I lay down the lies and the fears and myself at His feet, He meets me with love and shows me that His blood is more powerful than my weakness. His blood is more powerful than my sin. His blood is more powerful than my temptations, then my thoughts, then my actions. He is the ultimate and His blood covers me and forgives me and redeems me daily. I don’t know why this is so hard to believe sometimes. Maybe it is because it makes no sense, it is completely upside down from how the world operates. God is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and I am unworthy of Him. Why does He care for me? Why does he comfort me? Why does he love me? It Is because He is love. I don’t understand it, and I don’t deserve it, but this love is a gift and I cannot reject it. He gave everything for me and for you. Great humility and great faith go hand in hand. I know He loves me because I let Him tell me. In the deepest, darkest parts of my heart that I find myself running from, I find Him. He meets me and loves me through it all and it is this most beautiful thing. My encouragement to you today is to stop running. Go spend some time with your Father, the one who created you, the one who desires you, the one who loves you. Running is getting you nowhere and it will never satisfy. Face the pain and let God show you who He truly is. Let Him hold you and mold you into the masterpiece He made you to be.

 

 

Scripture:

 

Romans 7:15

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

 

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

 

John 15:5

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.

 

Isaiah 64:6

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind, our sins sweep us away.

 

Ephesians 1:7

In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

 

Hebrews 9:14

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

 

Lamentations 3:22-23

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

 

Revelation 17:14

They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings—and with him will be his called, chosen, and faithful followers.

 

Psalm 8

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants, you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider Your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon, and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

 

Isaiah 41:10

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

 

1 John 4:8 + 16

God is love 

 

Psalm 27:10

Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.

 

Psalm 63:8

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

 

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

 

Jeremiah 18:1-6

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you a message.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” Declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.

 

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

 

Hosea 6:6

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.