How Escaping May Not Be The Best Solution
Have you ever been caught in what seemed to be a hopeless situation? Was your first thought, “Let me out of here!” It seemed you were willing to do almost anything to get free from it.
Is escaping always the best answer to your problem?
God uses circumstances to teach us how to have victory IN every situation instead of jumping OUT of every difficult situation.
“In all these things, we are more than conquerors” (Rom. 8: 37).
Let’s look at the right perspective of a bad situation:
You usually have to compromise to escape.
If you want to jump out of something bad enough, you will take “second best” in order to get away from it. Even worse, you often are willing to sacrifice your dearest values and convictions in order to be free from the pain you are feeling.
David went down and lived in the land of the Philistines (his mortal enemies) in order to “escape” from Saul. In return, at Ziklag, he almost lost his family and his life. Compromise can be deadly.
You didn’t get into this situation by accident.
Many of our difficult situations are the result of our own poor decisions. You never “accidentally” climbed a mountain!
James spoke about the tongue as a “wheel” of fire. A little piece of kindling starts a forest fire. A small snowball rolls downhill and becomes an avalanche.
What words were spoken as small, “harmless” things that have now resulted in a huge, out of control blaze? You have to fix the “means” to fix the “mess.”
Character is formed by pain.
Staying with that job, that relationship, that degree is changing your character. We used to call it “stick-to- itiviness.” Persistence. Backbone. Resolution. Doggedness. Grit.
Nothing was ever accomplished by quitting the team. Even if you sit the bench, keep working, keep a great attitude. When you least expect it, the coach will put you in the game.
During my senior year of basketball, I was ready to quit. I had become “sixth man” instead of starting. “Pine time” (the bench) never feels good.
In overtime of the biggest game of the year, the starter I backed up fouled out. “Stockstill, get in the game” the coach said.
With only 30 seconds left to play, I got the ball and hit the winning basket. My name was in the headlines of the newspaper the next day. I’m glad I didn’t escape before that moment arrived. It sure changed my character!
God is working to give you victory.
If you don’t always seek an escape, God will work in you a deep power to overcome. You will go from “weak” to “stronger” to “conqueror” to “MORE THAN CONQUEROR!”
Whatever you are running away from today, ask yourself:
Will I have to compromise to escape?
What did I contribute to make this situation?
What could I gain if I stick it out?
What could God be preparing me for?