When life is hard and we feel stressed-out about a current situation or our unknown future, when we are offended by others or are so afraid that life feels overwhelming and without hope for a resolution, then our human nature shouts, “Run away! Get out of this mess!” But running will never allow us to find true inner peace. King David’s life was full of long, hard battles- in many circumstances and with people who struck out against him. He experienced pressures that constantly shouted to him, “I’m sick of this. Fly away, wander away, pull away, and escape all these difficulties.” David’s feelings of fear, hurt, or anger pushed and drove him to run. As we know from history, David did not always choose to run to God for help. There were times, he did it his way and got caught up in adultery, power and control. He then suffered the consequences of his choices. But from these consequences, David learned experientially, that running away was not the answer. David knew in his heart of hearts, he must run to God with all his confusion, fear, and the many contradictory feelings in his heart. When David decided to run towards God, and begin the process of unraveling his feelings; He would gradually find a place of safety and rest within his relationship with the heavenly Father. Then David’s fear lessened as his growing faith enabled him to heal, stand, be still, and wait for God’s deliverance while his heart abode in peace and praise. Like King David, we must learn to choose running to God in the middle of spiritual, emotional, and physical difficulties. Then we will also discover that God’ faithfulness and provision of rest and peace will see us through the ongoing process of our growing, spiritual evolution

“And I say, oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah {pause, and calmly think of that]! I would hasten to escape and find a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest. Evening and morning and at noon will I utter my complaint and moan and sigh, and He will hear my voice. He has redeemed my life in peace from the battle that was against me” (Psalm 55:6-8, 17-18a).