Do You Ever Want to Run Away?

I said, “If only I had wings like a dove – I would fly away and find rest. Indeed, I would run far away. I would stay in the desert. I would hurry to find shelter from the raging wind and storm.” [Psalm 55:6-8 (GW)]

Do we ever outgrow the urge to run away from it all when life gets really messy or complicated? We may not literally pack our bags but we do quit our jobs, change where we live, disconnect from those who love us, retreat into work or the internet, or even get a divorce. Some people escape by turning to obsessive or addictive behavior. We may run from our problems by concealing our feelings, hiding behind a façade of serenity, or even by denying their very existence, thinking if we don’t admit them we won’t have to face them. Instead of running away, however, we need to run to someone; we need to run to God!

But I call on God, and the Lord saves me. … Turn your burdens over to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will never let the righteous person stumble. [Psalm 55:16, 22 (GW)]

When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer. [Corrie ten Boom]

Why do the wicked seem to prosper?

So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! [Psalm 73:16 (NLT)]

Sometimes it appears that it is the wicked who live a life of ease and the virtuous who endure the most hardships. Even though it often seems that those who least deserve it have the most good fortune, bitterness and envy must never enter our hearts. God blesses us and He blesses others; what God chooses to give other people is not our business. Whether or not they “deserve” their blessings or misfortunes is not ours to determine and why the wicked sometimes seem to thrive while the good suffer is not ours to know. It is God who determines what happens not only in this life, but also in the next! The prosperity of the wicked is temporary while the reward to the righteous is everlasting!

Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord. You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed. [Proverbs 23:17-18 (NLT)]

“There is no peace for the wicked,” says my God. [Isaiah 57:21 (NLT)]

His Way is Better

2013-9-16“My thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways are not your ways,” declares the Lord. “Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.” [Isaiah 55:8-9 (GW)]

Lord, help me to understand, and when I cannot understand help me accept. Give me the courage to trust my life and future to your hands. Remind me that when life seems upside down, it is right side up to you!

 

Change is Always Possible

He changes deserts into lakes and dry ground into springs. [Psalm 107:35 (GW)]

Thank you, Lord, because if anyone can turn around a bad situation, it is you!

You have changed my sobbing into dancing. You have removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy so that my soul may praise you with music and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever. [Psalm 30:11-12 (GW)]

Be Happy with the Lord

Be happy with the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Entrust your ways to the Lord. Trust him, and he will act on your behalf. [Psalm 37:4-5 (GW)]

Guide our prayers, O Lord. Give us thankful hearts so that we focus not on what is missing, but on what is there; not on what we want, but on what we already have been given. Let us be less concerned with our needs and more concerned with the needs of others. We trust you with our future. We are in your loving hands and know you will provide everything we need.

I trust you, O Lord. I said, “You are my God.” My future is in your hands. [Psalm 31:14-15a (GW)]