Sometimes, one of the most difficult aspects of our lives is the task of encountering and dealing with ourselves.  It is sometimes the hardest thing to settle down, be quiet, and allow our issues, hurts, and habits to be exposed.  The tendency to escape and avoid the challenge of our inner conflicts is a prevalent character of the human nature. The difficulty of focusing on our faults creates an inner conflict and strain which we intuitively try to avoid. One thing I’m finding is that we can only improve ourselves if we are willing to sit down and deal with ourselves.  As children of God, we should always be improving so that we can be more efficient vessels of worship.

 

Jonah is a primary example of someone who attempted to escape God and “self.”  He attempted to escape his calling and purpose.  He wasn’t  willing to deal with himself, his pride, or his calling.  Jonah’s pride, prejudice, and unforgiveness towards the Assyrians of Nineveh lead him to disobey and rebel against God.  When God asked Jonah to perform a particular task that exposed Jonah to himself, instead of dealing with himself he sought escape.  Even though his attempt was not successful (because of God’s mercy), it displays some very critical aspects of the human nature.  This same aspect may have been why the children of Israel refused to hear from God directly.  They would rather Moses deal with God than step up to the plate themselves.  They refused to face the fire because fire exposes our true selves.

 

Our lives are filled with things that could be means of escape.  Especially here in America where life is so busy and everything is catered to entertain and please, distractions are easily found.  Everyone goes around with a cell phone attached to their ear or they are engrossed in loud music.  People hang out with friends, drinking and socializing, or they become workaholics escaping into a world of work and business.  Some people e-mail, text message, or instant message their friends all day.  Some people escape with TV and movies; others with alcohol and drugs. Some find escape in food or humor.

 

The most surprising mode of escapism, however, are the “spiritual” modes.  There are those of us who dive into religion in order to avoid dealing with our “self.”  Even consecration can be an escape.  How? Well, by ascending onto a spiritual mountaintop, we find the regress of God and our spirits become filled.  We feel close to God as we live in spiritual euphoria and we even feel good about ourselves for being disciplined enough to consecrate ourselves.  However, whatever we didn’t deal with before the spiritual mountaintop, it will always be awaiting us when we come down.  Upon descent is when we have to deal with ourselves. Then, we must do so by our own will.  If we don’t, the issue(s) will always be there, ready to manifest themselves at the slightest opportunity.  No amount of escape or postponement will cure our problems; there is no substitute for deliverance.

 

God often presents us with situations and tasks that lead us to encounter and straighten-out our inner issues.  Whether it be a habit, unforgiveness, bitterness, obsession, or any stronghold or trait that inhibits God from working in any way; our integrity is tested and evaluated by our response to those trying times.  Will we be Jonah and seek to flee God’s presence and avoid the issue? Or will we respond with the inner will to delve into the deeper issues of our lives and allow God to probe those sensitive areas so that we can be FULLY DELIVERED?! Somebody praise God for COMPLETE DELIVERANCE!!!