Certain situations in life beat us down, overwhelming us with discontentment. How do we know if we are to stand and fight, or if we are to flee?
Growing up in a Christian home, I was taught to love and be kind to other people. I was also taught to be a fighter. Not with my physical strength like my brothers were, but with my determination. I was taught to never give up and to fight for what I wanted. This determination still serves me well, but there have been significant moments in my life when running away from a fight actually brought peace.
Permission to Quit…
Before my son was born, my husband and I “birthed” a coffee shop. It was a dream that was becoming a nightmare. We were working non-stop. Up before the sun rose, and to bed long after the sun had set. And instead of making money, we were going deeper and deeper into debt. But we were fighters. And to give up meant that we had failed.
So we persevered, even after I became pregnant. Giving up the business never entered the conversation. It was simply not an option. Then I had a baby, along with postpartum depression. Thankfully, someone who loved me gave me permission to quit. It was an incredibly freeing moment. There was still a lengthy process to fully unload the business, but the weight started to lift at that moment.
Obedience Over Acceptance
For eight years my husband and I lived in Chicago. Many people feel this is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. For us, it was very difficult. We never really felt we fit there, and Lord knows we tried. We tried to invest in church, friends, a house. And we were involved with church, and we did have wonderful friendships, and we did make our house a home. But, I kept finding myself looking at job ads in other cities.
For so long I felt guilty about this. I felt that I should learn to be content with where I was and that I should just accept that this was my life. Until I realized that maybe we weren’t supposed to stay there. Maybe I was discontent so that we wouldn’t stay. It wasn’t giving up. It was letting go.
Do I regret starting the business? No. I know it was part of the journey I needed to walk. There were people we ministered to, and relationships that were developed that exist to this day. Do I regret living in Chicago? No. It was an intense, long season that taught me about people, myself, and how to be thankful. I was obedient in starting the business, and I was obedient to flee from it. We were obedient to go and live in Chicago, and we were obedient to flee from it.
Fight or Flight…
In the Bible, there are times God calls followers to stand and fight. In the book of First Samuel, chapter 17, we read about David and Goliath. We all know this story. Here is this young man, the baby of the family, going up against a massive, strong, arrogant warrior. David knows that he, on his own, does not have the strength to fight this man, but God does. He defeats Goliath and gives all glory to God! David was obedient to stand and fight.
“I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts… This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand… For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”
1 Samuel 17:45-47
There are also times God calls followers to run and hide. In the book of Matthew, chapter 2, we read about an angel telling Joseph to take Mary and young Jesus, and flee to Egypt because King Herod was setting out to destroy Jesus. They didn’t even take time to plan their trip. They just up and fled in the middle of the night. Couldn’t God have simply struck Herod down like Goliath? Certainly, but He didn’t. Joseph and Mary were obedient to run away.
“Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt…”
Matthew 2:13
If we find ourselves in destructive places that suffocate our souls, it is alright to ask the Lord if we are to stand and fight or flee to Him. Click To Tweet
Stand or Flee…
If you find yourself in a destructive place that is suffocating your soul, it is alright to ask the Lord if you are to stand and fight or run and hide. Maybe you are to fight in the name of the Lord and glorify God through this battle. Or maybe you need to protect yourself, and/or your family, and run to a place of refuge; even if it is just for a period of time to rest and recover.
Maybe you have just needed someone to give you permission. Permission granted.
