Run To Jesus

It is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

I’m a runner. Not in the physical sense, although I do occasionally lace up my tennis shoes and go for a slow jog. No, I’m a runner in the spiritual sense. For most of my life, I’ve had the habit of running as far away from my problems, fears, and worries as I possibly can.

Are you a runner too?

When your heart is overwhelmed, do you run to your phone or to food in search of a mental escape?

When insecurity squashes your confidence, do you run to a family member or a friend for encouragement and affirmation?

When discouragement disrupts your peace, do you run to your achievements to validate your worth?

When you are left out of a friend’s plans, do you run to a store to shop for something new to numb feelings of loneliness?

King David was a runner. In Psalm 18, he shows us a better place to run to in our time of need. In this psalm, David describes how God delivered him from his enemies. This song mirrors the one he sings later in life, right before his death (see 2 Samuel 22). The myriad trials David faced taught him that nothing this world has to offer would satisfy the longings of his soul.

In Psalm 18:2, King David describes the Lord as “my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” As he proclaims to his soul the character of God, David shows us a better place to run in our distress: the Lord.

David’s son Solomon writes a similar truth in Proverbs 18:10: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower, the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” There is power in the name of the Lord—power to save, power to shield us from the enemy’s attacks, and power to provide a safe haven when storms loom (see Romans 10:13).

We don’t need to run away from our problems, because God has given us a better place to run to: himself. In his name, we find safety and strength.

Because of Jesus, we don’t have to run away from our fears or nagging insecurities. We don’t have to flee our problems or avoid our shortcomings. Rather, we can face them with confidence, knowing the Lord will provide endurance, perseverance, and deliverance (see James 1:2-4). Taking refuge in God is better than relying on any false shelter the world has to offer (see Psalm 20:7).

If this is where you find yourself today—if you’ve laced up your spiritual running shoes and you’re furiously fleeing your problems—Christ offers you a better invitation. Your problems are not bigger than God. So unlace your running shoes and find rest in him (see Psalm 46:10).

Run to Jesus today—for help, peace, security, and belonging. As you run toward him, take comfort in knowing that he’s running after you too (see Psalm 23:6).

Word before World God has given us a better place to run to in our time of need—himself.

Grow in Grace Who or what do you run to when your soul feels burdened? The next time you’re tempted to run away from your problems, fears, or worries, run to your Savior.