[moldbreakers]

I really hate when things I care about don’t go the way I want them to go.

I hate when life is hard.

And I hate when I make mistakes. Especially when I sin.

I’m complaining, but I think we all have these feelings sometimes. When these things happen, and things get rough around me, I don’t want to experience the emotions that I feel. It feels like standing outside in the pouring rain in a t-shirt and shorts without an umbrella (I know because I just did it). I feel exposed, unprotected, drenched and uncomfortable to the core.

So what do I do? What does anyone do in an uncomfortable situation?

I try and escape.

I really enjoy FIFA ’15. That’s my go-to escape path. Or a hoop-session at the gym. A good book. A Netflix binge. Funny Instagram videos. Whatever or wherever, I’m headed to the first place that will take my mind off the situation at hand.

Everyone would agree that the middle of a storm isn’t the place to stay. But there’s a difference between escaping and taking refuge.

When I escape, I’m just distracting myself from the issues at hand. It’s easy, but that isn’t the way to heal. This world is broken, full of mistakes and pain and not the way God wants it to be. It isn’t pleasant. But it’s unavoidable. But that’s okay, because in the moments that life is the worst God shows up the strongest – if we seek refuge in Him instead of escaping on our own.

Here’s the thing: the moments where I experience the brokenness of this world should be the moments when I am joyfully drawn to the perfection of Christ. They should make me love God even more! He’s perfect and unchanging in a life that is exactly the opposite. More than that, I know because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, I can trust Him with my life and experience that perfect goodness for eternity. How much more should I hide in the Father’s unfathomable love and embrace? My escape plan cannot compare. If I’m not seeking God, I’m already lost.

Look at David after he commits adultery with Bathsheba and murders Uriah, her husband. He has a choice to make. He can pull an Adam and Eve and hide from the Lord. Or he can go directly to God and seek him for peace and restoration. He does the latter (read Psalm 51). Even Job in all his hardship remained steady in his mindset, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Job trusted God and sought Him alone for his comfort, even the the most uncomfortable of situations.

When life gets rough, I must seek the Lord first for healing. I’m pretty bad at this. I’d rather find my own answers. But they’re all Band-Aids. Rest isn’t wrong. Fun isn’t bad. But I must embrace the uncomfortable parts of the world first because that means I’m forced to be rooted in God to find my joy and rest. I’m only safe in Christ. Distraction isn’t the same as finding restoration in the perfection of Jesus.

Remember: Jesus is a Savior that knows everything we’ve been through. He’s been there. He loves us and desires us to come to him when life is rough. God has a plan for you and me; we must seek Him for that… and everything else.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13