“Think about some of the acronyms and abbreviations you use at your job. I know when I was in college, everything had an abbreviation or an acronym. ‘Hey, let’s meet at the CC and head over to dinner, and then afterwards we’ll go to the SC…’ I remember as a freshman thinking, where are these buildings and how am I going to find my way? It’s going to take me months to figure this all out! Here’s an acronym that’s easy to remember: FEAR. FEAR has two meanings: Forget Everything And Run, or, Face Everything And Rise. That’s powerful! The choice? That’s yours.” ~Todd Stach

You’ve probably heard about how our brain is designed to respond to fear by either fleeing to get away from the danger (flight), or standing your ground to overcome the object causing the fear (fight). It occurs to me that in the life of the Christian, both flight and fight have their place. We should run to Jesus and allow Him to guide and equip us to fight the battles we face. But what does that look like? In this 2 part blog series, we’re going to look at practical ways to turn to Jesus. 

How To Run To Jesus

If you’ve had someone say to you, “run to Jesus” or “just take it to Jesus” or “lay it at Jesus’ feet” you might have found yourself thinking, how am I supposed to do that? Where exactly is Jesus? Let’s get some Biblical perspective to understand these sayings a little better. 

“Run to Jesus” is a saying that reminds me first of the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. 

Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent all he had, a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing.

Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food? But here I am, starving to death! I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on. ‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’ The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ ‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours. But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

Luke 15:11-32 Berean Study Bible

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This is a parable, meaning a simple story used to illustrate a spiritual lesson. There are a number of lessons in this parable, but let’s focus on the picture Jesus is painting of the father. Even though the father has been wronged by his son in callous and heartbreaking ways, while the son is gone, the father is watching longingly for him to come back. The father is symbolic of God, waiting for us to come to Him with open arms. In fact, when we turn to Him, He runs to us. How beautiful!

Now for the practical part: running to Jesus is simply turning your attention to Him through prayer and reading the Word. It’s obeying even when it’s difficult. It’s choosing in a moment of fear or doubt to stop what you’re doing, turning your thoughts from what is worrying or scaring you, and thinking about the ways Jesus has provided, protected, or shown you love in the past. (If you are new to your faith and don’t have those experiences yet to remember, think about how God preserved your life until now. Think about all the ways He drew you to Himself. Read the Gospels and see the amazing things Jesus did for people everywhere He went and let that start to build your faith.)

I find it helpful to keep a journal of prayers and write down when my prayers are answered or when I see God is working in my life. It’s amazing to look back and see things I prayed about and didn’t even notice God answered, or things that were really worrying me and turned out to be no big deal. When you find yourself in spiritually dry seasons, you’ll be amazed how much you’ll be revived by remembering the ways God has moved on your behalf.

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God bless you. Stay hopeful! ❤️