Stay or Go, God is There

I’ve been known to stay long past the bitter end, forever and ever, amen. But as I age, my impulse is to run.

crosses
crosses

Running seems more efficient. The minute the malaise sets in and my gut says maybe everything in this situation (or friendship or outfit or whatever) isn’t going to be okay after all, I’m set to fly. Don’t usually act on it, but I want to.

God in His wisdom paired me prone-to-bolt with a husband who is built-to-stay.

He does not easily move. He possesses patient, long-suffering stick-to-itiveness. Comes from growing up on a farm, I think.

There’s a lot of waiting on a farm. You wait for the weather to change. Wait for things to grow. Wait for the prices of your crop to go up. Wait for the costs of your implements to come down. Wait for homemade dinners. Wait for trips to town to get supplies.

In the suburbs where I come from there’s very little waiting. We devour instant gratification. Malls, 24-hour grocery stores, fast food restaurants, extreme makeovers at your choice of salons. Want to satisfy a craving? Change your life today? Walk-ins welcome.

This isn’t a contest between farm and suburbia. There are pros and cons to both. Just like there are times to run and times to stay put.

Mercifully, God is there no matter what.

When the pregnant Hagar ran, she saw God.

When the fugitive Moses ran, God met him in a burning bush.

When David ran, he sang to God Who was with him: I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings until the disaster has passed.

When Elijah ran from Jezebel, he heard God whisper.

On the other hand, when Miriam stayed among the bulrushes of the Nile, she saw God save her baby brother’s life through the hands of an Egyptian princess.

When David stayed to fight Goliath, this was his battle cry: All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.

When Jehoshaphat’s people stayed in the face of destruction at the hands of their enemies, they heard the echo of David’s words: Do not be afraid because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.

When Jesus stayed and did not run from the Roman soldiers in Gethsemane, He set in motion the work of the cross.

I’m thankful for people in my life who ground me from flight. I like to think they’re thankful for people like me who bid them to fly once in a while.

Queen Anne's lace
Queen Anne’s lace

I’m astounded by a God who remains steadfast in spite of us.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Where can I flee from Your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, You are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there Your hand will guide me,
Your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:7-10 NIV

Me Without You, new from TobyMac.

Are you prone-to-bolt or built-to-stay?