Stop Running
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6
When life gets uncomfortable, the instinct to run can be strong. It’s easier to avoid the hard conversation than to have it. It’s easier to quit the job than to push through the conflict. It’s easier to distance yourself from the relationship than to work through the mess. And while stepping away can sometimes be wise, too often we run not because God told us to move, but because we want to escape the pressure.
Running may bring temporary relief, but it rarely brings lasting peace. That’s because God hasn’t called us to live on the run from every challenge. Sometimes He places us right in the middle of the storm to grow us, refine us, and prepare us for what’s next. If we keep running every time things get hard, we never develop the endurance or character we need for the future God has for us.
Think about Jonah. God told him to go to Nineveh, but instead of obeying, he ran in the opposite direction. And while running may have felt like the safer choice in the moment, it landed him in the belly of a fish. The lesson? You can’t outrun God’s call, and you can’t sidestep the growth that comes through obedience in difficulty.
If you’re in a season where everything in you wants to run, pause before you move. Ask God if this is a place He’s calling you to leave or a place He’s calling you to stand. Remember His promise, you don’t face that situation alone. He goes with you. He equips you. He strengthens you to do what you cannot do in your own strength.
The growth you’re praying for is often found in the very place you’re tempted to run from. Stay. Trust Him. And let Him use the hard place to make you strong.
When life gets uncomfortable, the instinct to run can be strong. It’s easier to avoid the hard conversation than to have it. It’s easier to quit the job than to push through the conflict. It’s easier to distance yourself from the relationship than to work through the mess. And while stepping away can sometimes be wise, too often we run not because God told us to move, but because we want to escape the pressure.
Running may bring temporary relief, but it rarely brings lasting peace. That’s because God hasn’t called us to live on the run from every challenge. Sometimes He places us right in the middle of the storm to grow us, refine us, and prepare us for what’s next. If we keep running every time things get hard, we never develop the endurance or character we need for the future God has for us.
Think about Jonah. God told him to go to Nineveh, but instead of obeying, he ran in the opposite direction. And while running may have felt like the safer choice in the moment, it landed him in the belly of a fish. The lesson? You can’t outrun God’s call, and you can’t sidestep the growth that comes through obedience in difficulty.
If you’re in a season where everything in you wants to run, pause before you move. Ask God if this is a place He’s calling you to leave or a place He’s calling you to stand. Remember His promise, you don’t face that situation alone. He goes with you. He equips you. He strengthens you to do what you cannot do in your own strength.
The growth you’re praying for is often found in the very place you’re tempted to run from. Stay. Trust Him. And let Him use the hard place to make you strong.
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