Who Can I Run To?
“Who can I run to? To share this empty space? Who can I run to, when I need love? ”
When God gave me the title of this message, the lyrics to the old Xscape song immediately came to my mind. Never put God into a box because He speaks to us in many different ways. (Sometimes that’s even through a 90’s R&B song LOL).
As I began to ask God what He was trying to say to me, I began to think about my own life, and all the things that I had “run to” in the past. For a very long time, I was unknowingly trying to fill a void that only God could fill.
When I was lonely, I would seek love from men because surely that was the answer, and would fix the problem (or so I thought). Because I was trying to do my own thing, and didn’t ask God to bring the right people into my life, 9 times out of 10, that ended in heartbreak. I always ended up feeling worse than before.
Not only do we look to others to fill the emptiness that we sometimes feel inside, we also look to things as well. I’ve ran to sex to fill the void. I’ve ran to alcohol to fill the void. I’ve even ran to food, and shopping to fill the void. Nothing filled the void, but I definitely kept trying my best to fill it.
During these challenging times that we’re living in, I’m sure many of you have wondered or even asked God “What in the world is going on?” (I know I have.) I believe that during this time of uncertainty, God wants us to run to Him.
But what does running to God look like?
I actually sat on this question for a few days before I had the answer that I felt like God wanted me to share with you today. Then God reminded me of the movie, ‘The Patriot’ starring Mel Gibson. (One of my favorite movies btw)
In the movie, there’s a scene with Mel Gibson’s youngest daughter that makes me cry every time I watch it. His daughter hadn’t spoken in a really long time because of trauma that she had experienced from the death of her mother. During this particular scene, her dad was leaving, and he was longing to hear her speak before he departed.
She was angry with him, and refused not only to speak, but also refused to embrace him before he left. As he departed, the little girl began to cry, and ran after her father with open arms as she cried out for him not to leave.
(Watch the short two minute movie clip here TO REALLY UNDERSTAND MY MESSAGE.)
I’ve seen this movie so many times, but when I watched it recently, God really revealed his heart to me for his children through this scene. Like the little girl in the movie, sometimes we can be angry with God because of things that have happened in our lives. We may have even experienced disappointment that has caused us to be distant from Him. Fortunately for us, God’s love doesn’t change.
He’s a gentleman. He’s not forceful. He’s just waiting for us to realize our need for him, and run into His arms so that He can embrace us, and reveal the great love He has for each of us. Our Father wants to be everything that we need for Him to be in our lives.
No matter what has happened, and no matter how far we may have strayed away, God loves us immensely. No issue is too big, or too small to bring before Him. If it matters to us, it matters to Him. So, run to Him today with open arms.
Today’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your love. I am so grateful that you never turned your back on me, even when I turned my back on you. Please show me anything, or anyone that I have been running to, instead of running to you. I know that true happiness, joy and healing only comes from you. I surrender any hurt, pain, resentment or anger that I’ve knowingly, or unknowingly held in my heart towards you, or anyone else. I’m allowing you to heal my heart today, and I’m praying for a deeper relationship with you. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Today’s Reading: Luke 15:20-24; Romans 8:38-39
Luke 15:20-24 (NLT) “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. ’
‘But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.”
Romans 8:38-39 (NLT) “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
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