More Than Escape: Running Into the Arms of God
“The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.” — Proverbs 18:10
It’s not about who or what we are running from, but rather who we are running to. It matters far more whom we seek refuge in than what we flee from. The God we turn to is far stronger than the threats we face.
Recently, I experienced a series of events that led me to one undeniable truth: God alone is the true source of safety and security. As I got closer to the success I had long sought, my mindset began to shift. my perspective began to shift. My theology and philosophy slowly morphed, and I started believing in things like:
Limitless human potential: That people shouldn’t get stuck in life and can achieve anything they put their minds to. Obstacles and setbacks are merely mental barriers, not real ones.
Work over faith: I started thinking and teaching that hard work was the answer to everything and that reliance on God was optional. I believed that man alone could satisfy his needs, through his own efforts, he can achieve anything, and that constantly seeking God’s intervention was a sign of laziness or complacency.
While parts of these beliefs can hold some truth, they reflect more of worldly wisdom than divine guidance. In my case, these ideas came from a place of pride and a growing distance from God.
But soon, God allowed depression to overwhelm me. A dark season of depression; one that kept me awake at night. I remember one particular night, feeling such an overwhelming dread that I thought death was near. I woke up drenched in sweat, and this torment haunted me night after night. The weight of that depression led to a complete loss of momentum. I tried everything in my power to escape the pain, sports, reading self-help books, and more. But nothing worked until I decided to run back to God. That’s when He began a journey of restoration in my life.
I’ll never forget the day I visited the Brooklyn Tabernacle for the first time. I stood in the congregation during worship as we sang “Goodness of God.” The words of the song pierced my heart. Tears flowed as God began to flood my mind with images of countless moments when He had specifically taken care of me. I felt His loving embrace for the first time in a long while, and my depression was immediately lifted. For the first time in a long while, I surrendered completely to Him. God’s presence was so real. As I reflected on how He dealt with me, God took me on a brief journey and taught me three key lessons:
His Personal, Intimate Nature: First, God revealed to me that He knew me intimately. He reminded me of personal details from my life and past, showing me that He was aware of everything.
His Grace and Mercy: Then, He reassured me that He was never angry with me. Despite my pride and self-reliance, He had been providing for me all along. I never doubt God’s existence. I had witnessed a miracle firsthand as a child, but I had struggled to fully rely on Him and believe that he truly cared for me. Even after years of serving Him, pride kept me thinking that, yes, God cares, but I also take care of myself.
His Unchanging Calling: Finally, God showed me that His calling on my life had never changed. He was still pursuing me, and His desire to use me as a vessel for His glory remained intact.
John Calvin, a central figure in the protestant reformation, emphasized a lot on God’s sovereign calling and the idea that His call is not a one time event but something that can reoccur and be reaffirmed throughout a person’s life. In his seminal work, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Calvin taught: “God does not call once only, but often renews His call to those whom He has appointed, especially in times of trial, discouragement, or failure.”
Another influential reformation era author, Martin Luther, strongly echoed this same view. He believed that God's calling is persistent, renewed, and reaffirmed over time. In seasons of doubt, weakness, or hardship, Luther taught that God continues to confirm His call, and that this ongoing affirmation is part of how God matures and sanctifies His ministers. He keeps those He calls.
Later, I read about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a figure whose work I deeply cherished and who also embodied this same idea In The Cost of Discipleship, he writes:“When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die... and continue following.” Bonhoeffer described calling not as a single, past event, but as a continual summons to surrender and follow—repeatedly, in different seasons and stages of life. Reflecting on the seasons of my life, I wholeheartedly agree with what these three men so passionately defended
There’s something about mankind that moves the heart of God. Perhaps it’s our fragility, our helplessness, or the fact that we bear His image. He loves humanity with a relentless love. At the slightest turn toward Him, He rushes to take hold of us. King David pondered this incredible love when he asked in Psalm 8:4–5, “What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?
When we run to God, we run to someone who loves us first. The God we run to is greater than the threats we run from. Here are three other vital truths I have discovered that have impacted my life:
Nothing can substitute the need for God or His purpose in our lives.
The relationship between a person and God is the most powerful bond that exists.
God has our best interests at heart, more than anyone else.
Spiritual victory is a demonstration of God’s love. In Revelation, He tells the church of Philadelphia, “I will have the priests of the synagogue of Satan come… and kneel before you because I have loved you.” Spiritual victory is a sign of how deeply God cares for us.
The real question isn’t what we’re running from, but who we’re running to. True safety is found in God’s presence. His tower of mercy and grace. Faith invites us to look up, not back.
King David understood this well. In every trial, both physical and spiritual, he ran to God. Psalm 91 captures this enduring truth: God alone is our true and unshakable shelter.