Running from problems makes things worse

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

- Exodus 3:10 (MSG)

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

When problems are mounting and life seems too much to bear, you 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 is 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 by 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 put and working things through, he ran from his purpose and call in life, which was to set them free.

After spending a stretch of time in a new countryside and a different 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 take care of some unresolved problems.

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. Chances are, we will face the same problem 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 can be contacted at Annetteebudzban@aol.com or (847) 543-8413.