Life is hard.
Life has many challenges.
When you are confronted with a difficult situation, what is your first response? Is it to lean into your faith in Jesus, or is your propensity toward flight – wanting to run, wanting to retreat, anything other than faith in Jesus?
Often, whatever is looming before us can appear too big, too overwhelming. But God!
I have found that the more I dig into God’s Word when these events come my way, I am able to withstand the circumstances, and that inclination to flee dissolves.
Sometimes it is an inward tussle. I sense God’s presence and peace. Then something happens and the desire to flee, to pull back, and to protect myself arises again.
But God knows the hurdles in my life, and in your life, and He knows how to jump them!!
Our God loves us.
Our God loves us unconditionally.
Our God only allows us to go through situations that He will be there to support us through.
When we are born again, He has sealed us with His indwelling Holy Spirit. John 14:17 states it this way: “He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.” CSB
That truth means that every true follower of Jesus is never without His presence. That is an amazing promise from God. This is one of the truths God gives us so that when the inclination to flee comes, we can stop, and stand firm in our faith in Jesus. He who is within us, is far superior, and more powerful, than anyone or anything else. The prophet Jeremiah stated this truth this way: “Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” Jeremiah 32:17 ESV
The enemy wants us to discount this truth. But God wants to bolster our faith with it.
Please consider the heart of our amazing Redeemer, Jesus, and His promises for His own, contained in the following passage from John 10:27-30:
“My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.” This is powerful for Christ’s followers. He speaks and we hear Him. He knows us – not a casual relationship, but intimate. What do we do? We follow Jesus!
“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.” This is our amazing hope that every follower of Jesus holds to. This is what helps the sensation of flight to flee, because we know that no matter what happens to us in this earthly life, we will always be with Jesus!
“No one will snatch them out of my hand.” No matter what threatens us in this life, we are absolutely securely held by Jesus.
“My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” These words help us to understand the power of God to remain with us, and to protect us.
“I and the Father are one.” This is a significant truth. We don’t fully understand it, but God has given it to us to know that our Heavenly Father and Jesus are united as one God. When we add in the Holy Spirit, the mystery of how this all works increases. But we believe it, by faith, because God’s Word tells us these truths. We have God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit all working for our benefit! Praise God!!
God will help us to remain stable in our unstable world. He is our Anchor.
How do these verses from John encourage you to trust God, and enable you to fight the desire to flee?
If you are not secure in knowing Jesus is your Lord and Savior, please reach out to me at:ButGodCares@gmail.com. This decision is truly a matter of eternal life and eternal death.
Living for Jesus, Donna
P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!
Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.
Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.