Escape!

 

Trouble overwhelms us! Difficulties consume us! The fast pace of our society demands so much! Satan continually temps us! All we want to do is escape! However, for the Christian, we have help with our deepest struggles. In the closing verses of Habakkuk, he declares his ultimate faith in God and we can draw strength from it today when we are ready to escape the feelings of being overwhelmed, consumed, and defeated. In verse 19, Habakkuk declares:

The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]! (Habakkuk 3:19, AMPC)

Matthew Henry’s commentary regarding this verse states, “He that is the God of our salvation in another world will be our strength in this world, to carry us on in our journey thither, and help us over the difficulties and oppositions we meet with in our way.” We can find confidence in our relationship with a living God that He is able to strengthen us to accomplish all that is before us.

 

Habakkuk declares “The Lord God is my Strength,” and we too should not depend on our strength, but that of our Lord. For this reason, many find strength through the Scriptures.

 

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. (Philippians 4:13, AMPC)

 

He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound]. (Isaiah 40:29, AMPC)

 

My life dissolves and weeps itself away for heaviness; raise me up and strengthen me according to [the promises of] Your word. (Psalm 119:28, AMPC)

 

But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength). (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, AMPC)

 

When feeling the need to escape, our focus is on our lack of achievement, instead of remaining focused on Him who enables us to achieve. The enemy often distracts us from our dependence on God and God alone. It is only by Him that we even exist and live (I Corinthians 8:6). Christ infuses power within us. Iron in our blood is a significant source of strength. When someone cannot produce blood, the doctors will give him or her iron infusions intravenously. These iron infusions provide needed strength. When our connection to Christ is lost, we lose strength and power.

 

Christ is limitless. While we are constrained to this world, its dictates, and its confinement. Christ is eternally limitless. What we cannot accomplish, He can. What we cannot understand, He does. When we allow His infusion, we become strong. It is Christ who gives us strength (I Timothy 1:12). This infusion strengthens our soul, our mind, will, and emotion. While we may not be able to accomplish or complete the tasks, there is no need for those overwhelming feelings and emotions. The strengthening of our soul allows us to think more clearly, we communicate more competently, we feel balance in our emotions. From this place of strength we are able to face the mountains and speak with faith, “Lord, move this mountain” and the mountain moves because nothing is impossible for you (Matthew 17:20).

 

When we become self-focused, we lose sight of our dependence on God. When we strive to accomplish all that is seemingly for us to do, we labor, we toil, we fret, and we become overwhelmed. Colossians 3:23 (AMPC) states, “Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men.” If we have an infusion into our soul (mind, will, and emotions), we will be able to work heartily! Maintaining our focus on Christ is first priority. When we focus on Christ, He supernaturally provides strength when we are weary and feeling faint.

 

Often we feel the need to escape because of our own procrastination. Prosperity comes to those who are diligent and accomplish much, while escape through procrastination leaves you in a state of want (Proverbs 13:4). The sense of entitlement grips our souls and we begin to believe the lies ourselves – Because we exist, give us everything. Often escape through procrastination is a simple form of protest. We are protesting the fact that there are people in control asking us to accomplish some task. This behavior is destructive (Proverbs 18:9). Fear is another driving factor of escape through procrastination. Instead of confronting issues, we procrastinate to escape the tasks required. This fear is a trap for us (Proverbs 29:25). Another contributing factor to escaping through procrastination is our belief that there will be a perfect time to accomplish the tasks. In the end, we never get anything done (Ecclesiastes 11:4). Finally, indecision can drive our escape through procrastination. We are double minded and unstable (James 1:8).

 

Psalm 119 provides great encouragement to those who feel defeated and overwhelmed. While we may feel that our life cleaves to dust, it is the promises found in God’s Word that revives and stimulates us (vs 25). Through God’s promises, we experience mercy, loving-kindness, and salvation, which provides strength and confidence (vs 41). Hope springs from our relationship with God and His promises (vs 49). When we focus on God and His promises, we gain confidence to accomplish all assignments given to us because of God’s favor and comfort (vs 58 and 76). We remember God’s mercy and grace given to us; therefore, we can be merciful and gracious to others and ourselves.

 

Pray that God will strengthen your hind legs so that you are able to make progress with the tasks that are before you. In addition, believe for supernatural strength like Elijah. When he had prayed for rain and it finally came, Elijah ran so fast that he passed the horse and chariot that had gone before him.

And at the seventh time the servant said, A cloud as small as a man’s hand is arising out of the sea. And Elijah said, Go up, say to Ahab, Hitch your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you. In a little while, the heavens were black with wind-swept clouds, and there was a great rain. And Ahab went to Jezreel. The hand of the Lord was on Elijah. He girded up his loins and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel [nearly twenty miles]. (1 Kings 18:44-46, AMPC)