I don’t know about you, but I’ve learned over my lifetime to be extremely proficient at escaping pain. I’ve found ways to numb it, forget it, comfort it, distract myself from it, or escape it. None of those solutions deal with the root of the pain, they just sidestep it with unhealthy coping mechanisms, leaving it to fester.

My latest Ah ha moment occurred last week as I’m learning to kick sugar to the curb. And my hope is that it may very well speak to you, too. Maybe it’s not food you struggle with but just insert your “thing” in place of my example of food!

Earlier in the week in the middle of the night, I was thinking that I often use food (and used to use wine) to ESCAPE.

Escape pain, or boredom, or struggles or anxious thoughts about family situations or current circumstances.

But, then this verse came floating to the surface of my awareness as the clock cast a blue haze over my side of the bed …

But when you are tempted, He will provide an escape so you can stand up under it. (1 Cor. 10:13)

The entire verse goes like this:

No temptation has seized you except what is common to (wo)man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will provide an escape so you can stand up under it. (1 Cor. 10:13 BSB)

So that made me curious… what about that word, escape

Dictionary.com says the noun escape is “avoidance of reality.”

Ummmm yeah. That’s what I am trying to do with food: avoid reality. Leading to comforting my emotions in a very unhealthy way. So, that is exactly what I do in my flesh. UGH!

It also says the verb escape is “to succeed in avoiding any threatened or possible danger or evil.”

This is what God offers me IF I will stay in the Spirit instead of my flesh.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16 ESV)

So, the choice is mine … I can feed my flesh in an attempt to diminish the inner conflict I’m sensing, or I can feed my spirit and trust the God who is always faithful. I can choose to draw near to the throne to receive the mercy and grace I need to help me.

He will give me the strength I need to take the way of escape only He can offer so I might stand up under it … endure the pain or the boredom or the struggles, looking to Him for comfort, not food. Or even better, I can choose to take a brave step to do the hard work and address the pain finding the healing Jesus wants to bring me!

Can you recognize ways you try to escape your pain? How has that effected your relationship with Him? I’d love to pray for you.

Thanks for spending time with me today!

Athena