When we encounter something difficult, our first response may be to run and hide from it. Naturally speaking, we have that instinct to flee from what we perceive to be difficult. However, we cannot overcome anything by trying to hide from it.

You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’” II Chronicles 20:17 (New International Version, NIV)

When challenges arise, we cannot act like a ostrich and put our heads in the sand. Ignoring something or trying to get away from it usually doesn’t make it go away. Granted, there are times when the Bible tells us to flee from certain things like temptation and bad companions, and so forth. Yes, we must do what we can to stay away from and shun evil. However, difficult situations and obstacles will still come our way. It is the nature of this fallen world. And we can’t run away every time something a bit scary or hard comes along.

Most of the time, we pull back from things we don’t understand or things that appear to be too big for us to handle. The enemy brings fear to try to paralyze us from moving forward, and if we bow to it, we will never be what God means us to be, and we’ll never accomplish what we were made to do. The best way to overcome this is to stand and refuse to run. Face the thing that the enemy is trying to make you afraid of. He’s a liar, and so if he’s trying to deceive you into thinking you can’t conquer something or that you are too small and weak to win, then the opposite must be true.

In Christ, you are victorious. You are more than a conqueror. Christ has won, so you win. There is no trap, no scheme, no obstacle or challenge sent by satan that can take you down or pull you under. You really are the head and not the tail, above and not beneath. You win. You win. You win. But, you won’t experience that victory if you turn tail and run when things get hard. Stand. God fights for you and if you will simply not run away, you will overcome.

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. Exodus 14:13 (New International Version, NIV)