Listen: Chris Witts presents Morning Devotions.

I wonder how many of us are like the little boy who was with his mother shopping one day in a large department store. He wandered off and his mother was frantic thinking the worst. So she had his name broadcast over the loudspeaker. For a while, there was no trace of him.

Finally, he was found crouched behind a counter, watching a woman give a demonstration. He got into trouble from his mother for wandering away, and she told him in future, when out shopping, he must hold her hand all the time. So the next day while she was hanging out the washing at home, the mother noticed the little fellow hiding behind one bush, and then another, stopping, as if he was absorbed in something. She was quite fascinated and asked, What are you doing? He replied, I had such a good time yesterday when I was lost, I was trying to lose myself again.

Wanting a Way Out

On the internet, I read of one young lady’s feelings:

I am sick of trying to escape my life… my day to day life is so boring. I want to pretend that tomorrow will not come, or that when it does it will not be as predictable and unfulfilling as I think it will. I don’t want to do work, I just want to sleep. I hate myself for feeling this way or even worrying but I keep coming back to this. I don’t know what to do.

When we start thinking about it, there is a sense of many wanting to escape from day-to-day living, or even the pressures or questions they can’t answer.

As a result, we have people who are lonely or lack self-confidence. And they try to fill their lives with video games, movies, alcohol, drugs, sex or romance, poetry, trying to make more money, or even the ultimate way out—suicide. What is all this saying?

Life is overwhelming for so many today—they never find contentment because they are expecting stuff that life cannot deliver. Everything is wrong, and they prefer to escape from reality, no stress, no concerns, no effort. What they say is, I want a way out. Problem with that is there are many situations we can’t control.

Embracing Life

Rather than wanting to escape, I want to suggest try and embrace life instead. Let’s accept and know ourselves, have an open mind to what’s going on around us and live in the present day. And most vital of all is to recognise God is with you every second. I discovered recently a prayer from Jeremiah in the Old Testament when the great Prophet prayed: “I know, Lord, that we humans are not in control of our own lives” (Jeremiah 10:23 –  CEV).

Hope 103.2 is proudly supported by

And most vital of all is to recognise God is with you every second,

It’s similar to Winston Churchill who said one day, “I have a feeling there is a purpose being worked out here below”. He was correct—God put us here to enjoy life while serving him. The Bible talks specifically to young people in Ecclesiastes:

Be cheerful and enjoy life while you are young! Do what you want and find pleasure in what you see. But don’t forget that God will judge you for everything you do.

Rid yourself of all worry and pain, because the wonderful moments of youth quickly disappear.

Keep your Creator in mind while you are young! In years to come, you will be burdened down with troubles and say, “I don’t enjoy life anymore”.

Everything you were taught can be put into a few words:

Respect and obey God!. This is what life is all about. God will judge everything we do, even what is done in secret, whether good or bad. (Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:1, 13-14 -CEV)

Value what God Has Given You

Instead of trying to escape, let’s see the value of each day God gives us. In Bible times, there were two Greek words for ‘time’: chronos and kairos. The former meant a timeline, while kairos means the present moment, now. Often we don’t live for the present. You know what that means—thinking about what to do later today or what you’ll have for lunch. Our bodies may be here in the present time, but our minds are somewhere else. Live for today knowing God will give his grace and help when we need it.

Do you hope for a special occasion? It may never come. Today is the special occasion.

Jesus said in Matthew:

More than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.

Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today. (Matthew 6:33-34 –  CEV)

If you’re trying to live three days in one—yesterday, today, and tomorrow—then no wonder you want to escape; it’s too difficult. But if you have a good day today, tomorrow will take care of itself. Do you hope for a special occasion? It may never come. Today is the special occasion.

Get daily encouragement delivered straight to your inbox

Writers from our Real Hope community offer valuable wisdom and insights based on their own experiences!

Subscribe + stay connected with all
our latest stories

Hope 103.2 is proudly supported by