away from? or to? If you are running, do you know why? Do you have a direction or a plan in mind… or is it only a (momentary) escape? I’m not trying to dis anyone who is in a state of running, only asking them to reassess if it is necessary… and do they have a time when they anticipate they’ll stop running?
Not much of a long distance runner myself, however I have discovered that I do sprints at times. Regardless, for me it’s a condition of discovering that this is what I’m doing rather than a thought out decision to run. Thought out or surprise ‘discovery’, we all need to eventually stop, catch our breaths, and determine a better way to respond. Was it ‘fear’ that occasioned the run, what is our why!? Temptations? Our own sin?
So often running only results in a worsen condition than if we had dealt with it at the time we realized. Perhaps we need to develop a good defense to be ready for use when the need arises… because it will arise. Point being that running is rarely a successful approach to problems, issues, temptations, etc. We tend to forget Who is working with us in these times and we are enabled and strengthened to face them.
“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3, ESV)
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:12-13, ESV)
While there is little support for running, whatever caused you inclination to run does come with benefits when you stand.
“Count it all joy, my brothers,[a] when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
(James 1: 2-4, ESV)“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5: 3-5, ESV)
Our ‘benefits’ of standing and facing over running is becoming perfect and complete, lacking in nothing, and the product of hope. That is a strengthening. We can, we can’t succeed in running.
