Stop Running

My wife and I had an encounter yesterday that left us feeling very concerned. We were talking with a man who was on the run.

He was accomplished and well qualified, but in recent years had fallen on hard times and was using his initiative to do all he could to provide for his family. He was working over eighty hours a week and putting in tremendous physical effort for a relatively small return. He was trying so hard, but we were convinced things could be so much easier for him if he allowed Jesus into his life.

In trying to converse with him however, it was difficult to communicate. There was no eye contact and no real relating. It seemed to us that he was a man who wasn't in touch with his feelings and didn't know what his heart was saying. He had attended church in the past but had no concept what it meant to be a Christian. He had written booklets that encompassed spirituality, but when asked what he believed, he didn't know. He said that he had never had time to stop and consider.

He kept bringing the subject back to his running. He runs everywhere, has done since he was young and runs miles every day. It seemed to us that he was running from himself, running from what he might hear or feel if he stopped. We just prayed inwardly that when God does stop him it won't be too painful for him.

This is only too familiar to me. I had strong legs and was never happier than when I was walking in the wild. Nothing wrong in that, but it was all part of my escape from issues that God wanted to deal with. Even though I was a Christian, there were areas of my life I was keeping from God and was running away from an inner pain that God wanted to heal. It was only when He gave me the grace to recognise the warning signs and cooperate, that He was able to get to work to strengthen me in my weak areas and ensure my strengths were surrendered to Him.

We may work our fingers to the bone, but that in itself just does not please God. When we are really surrendered and put our whole trust in Him we have His power and provision available to us. When we work His way there's no limit to what God can do through us.

"His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love." Psalm 147:10-11 New International Version