What do you do when you’re stressed, under attack or when everything seems to be going wrong? We all have a fight or flight switch in our brain. When it’s to for flight, where do you go? What do you normally do? I tend to close up, get quiet and go to bed early. My body and brain run through every scenario of how to get out of it or resolve the conflict. I expend lots of energy and brain power thinking about it to the point that it consumes me. I know some people whose response is to complain about it looking for sympathy. Others will try to express it in art to help them process everything. We all go to something to help us cope with the situation. Sometimes that thing we run to is a bad habit or an old sin that we just can’t seem to beat.
When David was under attack, he went on the run to other cities and caves. I’ve been to the area in Israel where he would run to. It’s hot there and there’s not much in that area to sustain life. Every time we go through that area, I look up into the mountains looking for caves wondering, “Is that one that David stayed in? Why would he come here?” However, God used his time on the run to refocus his attention back to where it belonged. A mighty warrior like him could easily think his own might was good enough to save himself, but God reminded him that He was his rock, fortress and sure salvation. David’s faith and trust in God grew while he was on the run because he learned to trust in God’s character during those times.
Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe” (NLT). The word “name” here actually translates to “the character of God.” Instead of blaming God for our situation, we need to be trusting in His character. To do that, I think about Lamentations 3:22-23. It says, “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” I draw comfort from those words knowing that God is not the source of my problems. He’s the source of my refuge and strength from them. He is faithful to grow me through them and to deliver me when the time is right. When troubles come your way, don’t run away from God. Instead run to Him remembering His character that has always sustained you.
Photo by lucas Favre on Unsplash
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 
Thank you for this, Chris. It’s exactly what I needed to hear this morning. Blessings!
Praise God!
Thank you 😊
Father God, praying that we will be all You called us to be for your Will to be done on earth as it is in heaven for your Glory! Praying for for Unity as all our sisters and brothers in Christ cling to your ways and hold onto truth according to your living word in the Bible! As all, sisters and brothers, everywhere gather in prayer for one another be Unified in you, living for your purpose for our lives in everything we do to further your Kingdom. I meditate on your living words all throughout the day, it refreshens me (a breath of fresh air) way down deep in my soul, as “we are hard pressed from each side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NIV). I keep my eyes on you, Jesus who is the Author and perfector of my faith who has good planned! I trust everything you said in the Bible, that you want us to have an abundant life in you! All scripture is from your breathe! I will not give up on doing what is good because I trust in your plan and will drop my ways for only your ways! I will not overlook the urgency you put in me and all of us, to share the Good News about Jesus, your one and only Son who came to save all people, once and for all because you love all and want no one to perish but have life in you! I will fix my eyes on you even if things like when I slipped of the counter in the process of moving last year made it difficult to move around. I will lean heavily on you because I desperately need you to guide me day and night! As you fill me with your strength and not my own, I am able to continue and will never give up! Praying with All my heart, that I become lesser (i) as YOU become more in me to further your Kingdom Come forever with you in heaven!“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV)
Amen!!! Amen!