The runaway bride

Jennifer Wilbanks, then aged 32, went jogging four days before her wedding and didn’t come home. Police were notified and a search began. Three days later, she contacted police saying she had been kidnapped. But it turned out that she just had a case of cold feet.

Wilbanks came to be known as the runaway bride. She had to eventually stop running away and face the consequences of her actions. Her fiance was willing to forgive and forget, saying, “Haven’t we all made mistakes?” Others were not so gracious.

Should you be thinking about running away from your problems, think again. Running from a bad situation only compounds your problem. It also breaks the hearts of those who love you. You can’t escape difficulty by putting distance between you and a troublesome situation.

Running from your pain, hiding in a cave, or going to another city doesn’t make your problem go away. Sooner or later you will be confronted with reality. Jonah, the runaway prophet, discovered that long ago. Not liking the assignment God gave him, he ran, but it compounded his anxiety – a bad situation turned into a nightmare for Jonah.

Runaways, however, don’t escape God’s care and concern. He’s not a policeman ready to pounce on you, but a loving Father who will forgive you and help you find your way back.

Call on your Heavenly Father to show you the way back today. Yes, it’s time to stop running from life’s problems and difficult situations. God will welcome you with open arms.

Used with permission from Guidelines Philippines, Inc. To learn more about Guidelines and the ministry, please write to Box 4000, 1280 Makati City, Philippines or e-mail address [email protected]. You may also visit our website at www.guidelines.org.