Run to the Father

“Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?” (Romans 7:24)

I’ll never forget the first time I learned about leeches.

I was eight years old, happily playing in a creek near our campsite. When I came out, I noticed something horrible had attached itself to my leg. I couldn’t brush it off. I couldn’t pull it off. What was this terrible creature, and who could free me from it?

I may have been just a kid, but I knew what to do—I ran screaming to my father. He told me it was a leech, sucking blood out of my body—worse than I had imagined! Then my dad lit a match and touched the leech with it. The leech let go and I was delivered from its clutches.

When I couldn’t get myself free, I ran to my father. One touch, and I was delivered.

I was about eight years old when I learned I had a problem much more serious than a leech—I figured out I was a sinner. I knew I couldn’t fix this on my own. Who could free me from the consequences and bondage of sin and death?

I may have been just a kid, but I knew what to do. I ran to my heavenly Father. I knelt at an altar and poured my heart out to my Father. I found the forgiveness and deliverance I needed.

Running to God is always the right thing to do. Sometimes, as we grow up, we seem to get dumber instead of wiser. Sometimes, we run away from our Father.

Jonah ran away from God and ended up swallowed by a giant fish (Jonah 1:3). The prodigal son ran away from his father and ended up sleeping with the pigs (Luke 15:11-32).

We’re really no better than the prodigal son or Jonah. God says move. We want to stay where it’s comfortable. God says stay still. We want a change of scenery. We think our plans are better than God’s plans, and we find ourselves running away from God instead of running to him. Our sinful nature pushes us to want our own way and to turn away from the Father.

I knew what to do when I had a leech on my leg—I ran to my father. Do we know what to do about the sin in our lives? What do we do when we’re angry, unforgiving, selfish, or mean? Who can set us free from the bondage of sin? What in the world do we do? We must run to our Father!

Anytime you’re not sure what your next move should be, try running into the arms of your heavenly Father. Matthew 11:28 invites us to run to him: “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis.”  Running to your Father is never a bad choice. He will ease your burden and refresh your soul. He will forgive your sins. He will be your oasis in a dry, barren land.

Dear Father, you have given me so much. May I run to you often. When I run to you, I find forgiveness for my sin, a strong hand to carry my burdens, and refreshment for my soul. I love you. Thank you for loving me. In Jesus’s name, amen.