Run, Hide, Fight: 3 Steps To Take In A Spiritual Crisis

I had never been in a building when it was put on lockdown… until recently. Although the time from lockdown to all clear was brief (and without incident), it was long enough to be frightening. As we waited, my co-workers and I reviewed the steps we had been taught—Run. Hide. Fight.

Run – When possible in the case of an active shooter, get out of the building.

Hide – If you can’t get out safely, hide. Turn off lights, silence cell phones, block doors and remain hidden and silent.

Fight – As an absolute last resort, fight. (Ready.gov)

Hours and days later, I was still thinking about the Run, Hide, Fight steps. And I realized these are the same steps we should take when life takes us off guard.

* Run to God.

* Hide in His shelter.

* Fight the enemy with all God has given us.

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Run to God

When we’re in danger, overwhelmed by life, or in situations we can’t see an end to, we may be tempted to run to get away. But running aimlessly will get us nowhere and we will likely find ourselves even more lost.

“The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.”
Proverbs 18:10 NLT

Running to God gets us to safety. The storm will continue to rage around us, but God is unchanging. While the ground feels like shifting sand, God is our solid foundation. No matter what happens, we will always find security when we run to Him.

Hide in His Shelter

When we’re in trouble, we may want to hide like Adam and Eve did in the garden of Eden after they ate the fruit they were warned not to eat. But hiding from God leaves us on our own. And that’s a lonely and vulnerable place to be.

When we hide from God, we make ourselves an open target for the enemy, but when we hide with God, we are in the most secure shelter available.

“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by.”
Psalm 57:1 NLT

When we turn to God for protection, He offers us a safe place to rest and catch our breath. And there is no time limit or waiting list. We are always welcomed to stay as long as we need or desire.

Fight the Enemy with All God Has Given Us

God Himself has given us the tools to we need to fight against the enemy.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV

We’re not asked to fight in our own strength, but in God’s mighty strength and power. Jesus told us in John 16:33 that we will have trouble in this life, but we can find peace in Him because He has overcome the world.

Because of Jesus, we have the armor we need to stand against all Satan throws at us.

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Ephesians 6:14-17 NIV

God does not leave us defenseless in our daily lives. He gives us Himself and invites us to run to Him and hide with Him. He has given us Jesus, to whom Satan has already lost. And He gives us the Holy Spirit who resides within those who believe in Him.

We need to be watchful of the enemy and ready to protect ourselves and fight against him, but thanks to Jesus, we do not need to live in daily fear.

“I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”
John 16:33 MSG

Jesus has already defeated Satan. And Satan would really like for us to forget that. So, let’s not forget. Let’s remind ourselves daily—Jesus has won the war against the enemy! And we will continue to Run to, Hide with, and Fight against, because the enemy cannot stand in Jesus’ presence.

Join the Conversation

Have you been facing spiritual warfare in your life recently? Which one of these have you been doing the most, or do you see a need to work on in your life? Join the conversation in the comments below.

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