“You can’t run away from yourself…”

Debbie B.

A dear sister friend told me that (or something like it) when I told her I felt like running away.  Those words woke me up. I was feeling super overwhelmed by the spiritual and emotional roller coaster that I’ve been on lately.  I was thinking that if I could just go somewhere else where nobody knows me there’d be less pressure to…well, I don’t even know what to tell you the truth.  Apparently, I really wasn’t thinking. I took my focus off of Jesus and got overwhelmed.  What would I really be running away from?  I’d be running away from all the good things keeping me on track, that’s all. So very glad my friend helped me to snap out of it and refocus!

I really can’t run away from myself, and I certainly can’t run away from God. There is no hiding from Him.  Not to mention that it would be such a dangerous thing for a formerly depressed alcoholic like me to do. If I were to run away to a place where nobody knows me, then I’ve lost my godly team of people keeping me accountable. There’s just too much to lose by running away. I know the enemy was hoping I’d open a door for him again, but it didn’t happen. God is keeping me strong and I’m so thankful to Him for the people He has placed in my life to help me stay the course. 

This year has been the most challenging year of my sober life. The closer I grow to God, the more I seek and serve Him, the more the enemy tries to trip me up. I was feeling pretty weak for that moment, but my friend blessed me with her words and prayer, and I continue to take one day at a time holding on tightly to the Lord—I’m still standing. I know I can’t walk this journey without my godly friends. God placed them in my life for a reason and I am grateful for every one of them. 

So for anyone out there who might be feeling overwhelmed by life and you’re thinking you’d like to run away, don’t do it.  I’ll say to you what my friend said to me…You can’t run away from yourself.  Here’s a quote from Confucius that you can think about as well: “No matter where you go, there you are.” 🙂  So you see, we might as well stay where we are and keep on pressing forward with God’s help. 

Stay strong in the Lord friends, He’ll carry you through it all if you let Him.  Make sure you have godly friends you can turn to when you’re struggling. I can’t say enough how extremely important that is.

Bless you! ♥

6 thoughts on ““You can’t run away from yourself…””

  1. Deb, your blog reminds me of a little sapling; when it is first planted and a storm comes against it, the wind and the rain drive it back and forth to where it almost touches the ground. But as the roots of that little tree grow deeper into the ground it becomes stronger and stronger so that when the storms come again it finally reaches the place where it sways gently with the wind. The Apostle Paul, when talking about the persecutions and tribulations that he experienced in Acts 20:24, said this: “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

    My dear sister, continue to grow deep in the soil of God’s love and you will grow strong as that little sapling, able to stand against the enemy’s attacks! Don’t allow the devil to sway you away from the fold for the wolves always attack the little ones that are on the edge of the sheep-fold. Stay close to your support group! God will strengthen you through this!

    God Bless you for reaching out and encouraging others through your own experiences!

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  3. Debbie wrote: “This year has been the most challenging year of my sober life. The closer I grow to God, the more I seek and serve Him, the more the enemy tries to trip me up.”

    And that is the theology of the cross in action. The theology of glory wants to assure us that we can live on the mountain tops all the time. But the reality is that suffering, temptation, angst, trials, are the stuff of life. In the New Testament that is one of the critical topics (See 2 Cor. 11:16-12:10, 1 Peter 4, etc.). Thus, grace is not some “super charger power” for us to help us live a better life. It is God’s character by which He sustains us in the valleys of despair, depression, suffering, forgiving restoring, strengthening, encouraging, etc.

    So glad you have friends who can encourage and support you. I continue to pray for you, Debbie.

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    1. Rich, thank you so much for this, this is great. Thank you for praying. The roller coaster seems to be getting bigger lately, but I’m holding on tight to Him!

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