Stay or Run Away

My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me. Fear and trembling have beset me, horror has overwhelmed me. I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be a rest. I will flee far away and stay in the desert, I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”  Psalm 55:4-8

The way in which one deals with problems will reveal much about one’s Christian character. The psalmist here point to two methods people use to deal with their problems. There is “flight” in which you try to escape or evade your problems. Then there is the “stand steadfast and trust the Lord” method in which we deal with our problems and overcome them in the name of the Lord.

Jonah started by running away, God sent him to Nineveh, at Joppa, he then brought his ticket for a voyage by boat to Tarshish, situated far away from his responsibilities. (Jonah Chapter 1 Old testament) But Jonah never reached Tarshish. There is no place on earth where we can escape our problems completely. Instead of solving his problems, Jonah only multiplied them. Once cannot escape from yourself, your responsibilities or your problems. When Jonah eventually chose the path of obedience and went to Nineveh to carry out his task, the Lord supported him with strength and he worked miracles in the name of the Lord

At one time or another we all face the temptation of trying to run away from our own problems or to sidestep our responsibilities. Even Jesus was confronted by temptation in the desert. However, He accepted God’s will for His life and did what He had to do. It we are obedient and faithful, if we trust God completely, He will support and help us.

Grace and Peace to You My Friends