The Race You Never Win

“No matter how fast you run, you won’t escape. No matter how strong you are, you will lose your strength.” Amos 2:14

Running away is a race you never win. Running from our problems has, unfortunately, become more and more commonplace in our society. Tenets run out on renters, a spouse runs out on their family, and debtors run out on their creditors. People seem to be running in all directions; running from their fears, from other people, from their responsibilities and running from God.

Jonah tried to run away too. The book of Jonah  opens with God speaking to Jonah, commanding him to preach repentance to the city of Nineveh. Jonah found this order unbearable. Not only was Nineveh known for its wickedness, but it was also the capital of the Assyrian people, one of Israel’s fiercest enemies. Jonah, a stubborn fellow, did just the opposite of what he was told. He ran to the seaport of Joppa and booked passage on a ship to Tarshish, heading directly away from Nineveh. The Bible tells us Jonah “ran away from the Lord.” But Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). The trouble is, there are a lot of difficulties in life that we simply don’t want to embrace. Some things seem too hard to confront. Often times we’re afraid we’re not strong enough, we fear suffering, we fear reprisal or we don’t want to be embarrassed.

Sometimes, like Jonah in the Old Testament, we have a tendency to run from what we don’t want to face. Yet the Bible portrays God as a refuge where we can find safety: “He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield” (Psalm 144:2).

So what does God ask us to do instead of rationalizing our behavior or bolting for the nearest exit?

1. God is your Refuge, Keep Him close.

It’s easier to recognize a disconnect between the truth and whatever we tell ourselves when we’re very clear on what the truth is! Bible reading, prayer time and service to others helps clarify our vision. We can frequently pray, “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

2. Admit your Problem.

Paul speaks for all of us when he says, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Romans 7:15). We’re always more focused on staying on track when we recognize that we frequently fall off it!

3. Define the Fear.

Fear is often a sign that in some way we aren’t trusting God. “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment” (1 John 4:18). Whenever we fear, we need to think of it as a red flag that signals we’re likely to run!

4. Don’t Rationalize.

One of the key markers is the word “but”  (as in, “I did wrong but…”). Try to go for a whole day—and then an entire week!—without blaming anyone or anything. Look only for the plank in your own eye (Matthew 7:4) and figure out its true dimensions.

5. Be Quick to Reconcile.

We can’t have a good relationship with God until we face—and clean up—the messes we’ve made. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).

Whenever we want to run from something, we must train ourselves, instead, to run to God. “For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent” (Psalm 27:5). To do this we must be honest with ourselves and honest with Him. And we must never give up hope. After all, even Jonah (Jonah, chapter 3) got a second chance!

So what problem are you running from today? What issues are causing you to “lose your strength?” Make up your mind to stop right now and deal with them. “Do not give the devil a foothold” (Eph 4:27) by spending one more day on the run. It doesn’t matter how badly you’ve failed in the past, “The blood of Jesus…cleanses us from all sin” (1Jn 1:7 ). Whether it’s a stubborn habit, or someone you fear confronting, “step up to the plate.” The thing that’s chasing you will lose its power when you face it down in the Jesus’ Name. Paul says, “Having done all… stand” (Eph 6:13), …and you do that through the power of God, not in your own strength.

Father, we surrender ourselves to you this day and every day and ask you to intervene on our behalf. May we be strengthened by your Spirit to never run away from our fears, our responsibilities, from other people or from you. May we stand strong and confront the things that hinder us. May we always run to you in all that we do, that we may be strengthened and empowered to complete the plans you have for us. In Jesus’ Name…Amen