Running From Him

This is not a popular topic, running from God. However, if we are honest we are guilty of it from time to time. Interestingly the thing is that we don’t have to run an all out sprint, it may be that we run away in little ways. We turn from Him and turn towards other things.

I can pour myself into things. When I am all in, then I see nothing else. Projects are my favorite way to run from God. When my body and mind are fully occupied with a project then there is little time to reflect on what God has asked me to do.

Picture me in my cooking apron, in a mess of a kitchen because when I cook there is food everywhere! I have a plan of attack and we are going to get it done! Spaghetti sauce is simmering and bubbling on the stove, muffins are baking in the oven, and I am cutting up chicken for my next cooking masterpiece, I begin to hear God whisper, “I miss you, Come and rest”. I brush that thought aside and continue in the direction of my cooking plan. After all, I have wonderful food to prepare! On the radio a song that reminds me of how good it is to be in God’s presence comes on and I enjoy it for the moment then rush to take out the muffins. Two hours later I am exhausted from the cooking and cleaning, but feel proud of what I have accomplished. Deep inside I am a little sad, He was here and I ran to my need to be busy. I chose to not acknowledge Him.

Jonah ran

Jonah was scared to do what God had asked him to do so he simply ran away!

But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. Jonah 1:3

He ended up in a very fishy situation!

I couldn’t resist!  Imagine finding yourself in the wet, stinky, dark belly of a whale! Scripture says that he was there for 3 days and nights! I would imagine that he had time to ponder his reasons for running from God.

Then He called out to God

He said: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. Jonah 2:2

I love this.  It doesn’t matter why we run, what we are running from or running to. Our God listens when we cry out to Him.  He is gracious and abounding in love.

The truth is none can run from God. 

Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?” says the Lord; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord. Jeremiah 23:24

It’s time we just admit that we are like 2 year olds who think that if we put our heads under the blanket that God will not see us. Why not just come out of hiding, stop our running and just spill whatever we have on our hearts before the Lord. We would save ourselves a lot of heartache if we will just stop and acknowledge Him.

You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

Psalm 139:1-8

Questions to Reflect on

• Are you Running from God today?
• Where have you fled to?
• What would it look like if you stopped and called out to Him?

The Hiding

I can think of no greater place to acquire a clear picture of distancing oneself from God than in Genesis.

Adam and Eve had everything we crave closeness, intimacy, communion and perfect communication with the God of the universe, then In what must have seemed like an instant everything changed.

We know the story: the tree, the apple the sin and inevitably the separation.

The Hiding occurs when we see our sin

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Genesis 3:7

For Adam and Eve it began with covering their nakedness. Before this they were naked and not afraid. Sin changed everything about their relationship to each other and with God himself. It brought a desire to hide and it brought shame. When they began to see the consequences of their actions and realized that they had to own up to them, they started to hide.

We aren't any different! I try to cover up my sins by being too busy to stop and reflect on them or by simply avoiding things that are too deep. Spending time with God is difficult when I am in this hiding stage, I push everyone, including God away from me.

I have a dear friend who lives in California, 2000 miles away for me. We have known each other for over 20 years and has stood by me when I have been in hiding. She will call me and leave a message, "Just checking in, please call me".  Normally, I will call her back and we will get caught up, but during a period of hiding I won't even listen to the message. There is this little voice inside of me that says, "Don't connect, don't get close, she'll know that you are struggling if you talk with her!" Lovingly, she pursues me until I call her. This good friend reminds me of the deep love that Jesus has for us. He waits, pursues ands welcomes us back.

It is in these times that I cling to the truth of God's word. I am so grateful that He has shown us the frailties of people throughout scripture.  it's so comforting to know that I am not alone in my hiding.

God pursues us

When we read on in Genesis we see God pursuing them.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.  But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” Genesis 3:8-10

If I stop long enough, I hear God calling out to me, "Where are you"?  In that moment everything can change. What has seemed like a huge chasm is now remedied. if I will stop, come out of hiding and return to Him, those times of closeness will be felt again and all is well. In that moment I am reminded that I am His beloved and He is near.

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f you have been farther from God that you want to be, than why not stop and ask Him to be close again?