You Can Run but...........

"You can run but you can't hide."

You've read that quote before, right?

Perhaps you've even said it to a tempestuous toddler. Or a frustrated four year old.  Or a hormonal teen.  Or an annoying spouse. 

 Or a disturbed student.  Like I did today.

Oh, this little boy.  This little blond-haired, blue-eyed, emotionally fragile 6 year old.  A little boy with a fractured family.

A little boy who cried out in anger, frustration, fear in his voice "My dad doesn't love me anymore".

The teacher who tried to ask him why he thought that.  And all the while signaling with me that yes, he probably did hear a version of this at home.  We don't know for sure. But little first graders just don't make this stuff up.

He wouldn't walk to class. He planted those feet in that passive-aggressive stance and he would.not.budge.

I walked away.  He ran. I tried talking to him, sitting by him, joking with him, showing him choices....he wanted no part of school today. Splashing water from the fountain, and kicking off his shoes, and refusing to look me in the eye.....and asking me why does he have to go to school and telling me he just wants to play and he doesn't wanna work and Mrs T I just wanna go home.  Running away down the hall. To the outer doors.  And I have to guide him back.  It's my job to lead him.  Stubborn. Screaming. Sobbing.

I walked him into the time away area...to take a break......to punch the mats, to throw his shoes, to scream at his teacher that she is stupid.  All ways of retreating away from the people who care....the people who want to help him.

and the words coming out of his mouth about home......and his mixed up feelings and his mixed up life, not one part of it making sense. And it's expected he will sit in math??

And I thought of my devotional this morning..........

.........about reading in Psalm 139:7-10

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your Presence?  If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast." 

God is always with us.

God is always present in our lives.  Even when we don't see him.

Just like I am a presence in R's life........just like his first grade teacher is a presence in his life......just like the school psychologist and the school counselor, and the speech therapist, and the special education department........He has people in his life who want to help him and guide him and lead him.

And it's just like God.  God wants to help, guide and lead us.

R---- allowed me to walk him to a time away area....to feel safe. Where he can display his emotions in an appropriate manner. 

Do we allow God to lead us??  Do I as a believer allow God to lead me through every area of my life?

We might want to run from things or people or situations.  We might want to run from memories that bring fear, hurt, anxiety or loneliness.  We might want to run from the good things and engage in the inappropriate things.  We might want to run towards sin instead of away from it.

But God will be there.  To lead. To guide. To help.

"For those who trust in God,the safest place in the world is wherever He leads us."

(from page 43 in Simple Prayers of Faith, c. 2011)

R feels safe with certain people.  R feels safe in certain places at school.

We can all feel safe when we trust that God is leading us...and when we put our trust in Him to lead us!

So, instead of having that feeling of "I need to run" or "I need to get away from here.......or "I can't do this"............give it to God.........trust Him to lead you where He wants you to go.

There will be freedom in your soul!

It's like the hymn says:

"Jesus, Jesus,

 how I trust Him

how I've proved Him o'er and o'er

Jesus, Jesus,

precious Jesus

Oh for grace to trust Him more"

so....go ahead and run......you can't hide....but you CAN run right into His arms...

......a safe place......