Face problems, don't run away

"It's time for you to go back."

- Exodus 3:10 (MSG)

Have you ever said to yourself or someone else, " I feel like running away?"

When problems are mounting and life seems like too much to bear, you just want to escape.

I think, at times, we'd all love to run from difficult things. I enjoy reading and learning from Bible stories because those men and women weren't any different from us.

One of my favorite stories was about Moses. It's not the drama of God parting the Red Sea for him that fascinates me, although, I have to admit, Hollywood movies have sure captured the essence of that spectacular miracle as the Israelites walked between the flowing walls of water.

Instead, I'm fascinated how God directed Moses' life. Moses ran from Egypt because something happened there that was too hard for him to face. When he encountered some violence while trying to free a slave, instead of staying and working things through, he ran from his purpose in life, which was to set the slaves free.

After spending a stretch of time in a new countryside with a profession of tending sheep, one day he noticed a bush burning on a nearby mountaintop. When he climbed the mountain for a closer look, he had an encounter with God. Much to his surprise, God informed him he was sending him back to Egypt to deal with problems that remained unresolved.

There are times we need to move on in life. However, when we run from difficult situations we can't grow from them. Anything we run away from has power over us. Changes are, the same problems will keep arising until we face our fears and conquer them.

Before we head for a new direction we should ask ourselves, is there is anything I am running from?

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She is speaking at Libertyville Civic Center Friday, Sept. 18, from 7-8 p.m. Make your free reservation by calling (847) 543-8413 or email Annetteebudzban@aol.com.