Face It; Don't Run From It

Mark 14:42

Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.

The verse above is one of the most amazing verses about the life of Christ. Jesus knew He was about to face the most difficult part of His ministry; He knew what was going to happen to Him. Jesus knew those who would betray Him would take Him and beat Him, pluck out His beard, spit on Him, and eventually crucify Him. Instead of fleeing from all of this, He said to His disciples, Rise up, let us go;… Instead of running from problems, Jesus chose to rise up and face them.

The example of Christ ought to be followed by every believer. If Christ chose to face His problems and trials, every believer ought to do the same. It is our natural tendency to run and hide from trials, but that does not make them any better. You must face your trials if you will have victory over them. Let me share several thoughts about this critical truth.

First, problems and trials are a part of life. It does not matter how much you try to avoid them; they will come. You may think it will never happen to you, but I am here to tell you that trials and problems will come. I am not trying to be a prophet of doom, but I am being a realist. You may think you have the tiger by the tail, but I have learned that the tiger often turns around and bites you. Nobody, saved or lost, is safe from problems and trials.

Second, taking your problems out on God will not make them better. Too many believers think they can put God to the side as they face their problems, but one thing will happen: they will only get worse. You cannot stop going to church and think your problems will miraculously get better. So, you temporarily overcame your problem by quitting church. The problem is you put a bandaid on it, and the trial was never conquered. You can be assured that problems and trials will reappear even when you quit going to church and stop serving God.

Third, running and hiding from problems never makes them get better. Ghosting the ones who are trying to help you through life’s problems is not the way to have victory over them. You can be the turtle that hides in your shell in the middle of the road, but the trials and problems will run over you and destroy you. Running and hiding from problems have only resulted in your problems and trials getting bigger.

Fourth, you will only find victory through God’s help. Philippians 4:13 is still true when it says, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. You can try to face your trials alone, or you can bring them to God and find how you can overcome them.

Fifth, you will never find victory over problems and trials until you choose to face them. Jesus made the right move when He chose to walk toward the trials He was about to face, because it was going to happen. I would rather face my trials courageously and find victory than run from them cowardly and watch them destroy me and die as a coward. Remember, there is no resurrection without a death.

My friend, victory in life never comes easy. Likewise, victory never comes from running. Those who find victory must face their hardships head-on. You can live a victorious life despite the hardships and trials, but you must face them. You will find God will use those trials and hardships as the tools to propel you to great victory if you choose to face them and determine that, with His help, you will overcome them.