Fight or flight?

Fight or Flight?

Written by: Tom Matlock

Most of us have been around long enough to know what circumstances make us want to run. Adversity comes in many different forms from financial difficulty to health issues, family strife to spiritual warfare. Why does God allow things like this to come into our lives?

The reality is that Christ allows struggles to grow our faith and drive us to Himself. Many would concede that if we didn’t meet adversity, we would seldom seek Him out. Sadly, instead of looking to God for growth opportunities and spiritual nourishment, we tend to exert all of our strength looking for a way out of the hardship.

God is clear in His Word that He will never lead us to adversity that He doesn’t intend to lead us through. Paul knew God’s ability to comfort and sustain first hand as he describes in his letter to the church at Corinth.

“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with His comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us. We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And He did rescue us from mortal danger, and He will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him, and He will continue to rescue us.” 2 Corinthians 1:4-10 (NLT)

The Word offers us additional encouragement in the book of Matthew.

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.’” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

Jesus promises to give us rest and knowledge, and to refresh our souls in the midst of our trials.

In closing, will you trust Him or run away from Him as you flee your circumstances?