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Reasons We Run From God Following Disobedience
Published 6 months ago • 9 min read
Hello Reader,
Over the past two to three weeks, we have been studying a series from Life.Church called Christian-ish.
Christian-ish:having a half-hearted faith; wearing the label of Christianity without truly following Jesus.
I don't know about you, but I've been convicted. Craig Groeschel has been bringing it every week with topics like Lukewarm Christianity, Selective Obedience, Idolatry, and Transactional Faith.
Inspired by our study, I have been taking a deep dive into disobedience and our behavior before, during, and after we disobey God. This week, we will examine 11 Reasons We Run From God Following Disobedience.
11 Reasons We Run From God Following Disobedience
Why Do We Run? I believe it’s a valid question. When it comes to our disobedience, I believe that our desire to run away has a lot to do with our foundational experiences during childhood. Yes, I can sense the eye-rolling, but stick with me. Each of us has had unique experiences dealing with disobedience, so a blanket explanation will not fit here.
Not long ago, I might have written an entirely different article. After a few years of building the Overflow Community and interacting with various people with unique upbringings and life experiences, I can safely say that there are more variables to consider than I know what to do with. There are things I cannot explain to you with all of these variables. When describing why we run from God following disobedience, the short answer would be, “It is complicated.”
Despite its complexity, there are some common reasons that people tend to run from God following disobedience. In the following paragraphs, I will cover some of these points from a high level. I don’t blame you if you are wondering why this is important. For me and many others, understanding potential reasons for our behavior can help us make lasting changes. It’s also important to realize that our obedience and how we view God impacts how we approach life, including our brain health. With all that said, let’s dive into the 11 reasons we run from God following disobedience.
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So, why do we run when we realize we’ve been disobedient?
1. Guilt and Shame
One of the most obvious reasons we run from God after disobeying Him is guilt and shame. Anytime we sin, we often feel exposed, unworthy, and embarrassed. Much like Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:7-10, our first instinct after disobedience is to hide from God. Our shame can make us feel undeserving in approaching God. The beautiful truth is that God’s love is not based on our perfection or imperfection but His grace. In Romans 8:1 it reminds us, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Avoiding Pain and Discomfort
As I mentioned in a prior article titled, 2 Mistakes Every Believer Makes When Dealing With Disobedience, as human beings, we tend to run away from pain or discomfort and run towards ease or comfort. We don’t like to experience feelings of guilt or shame, and often, the best way we know to get rid of these feelings is to distance ourselves from God. To me, this makes sense. I don’t have to think too hard to understand this logic.
If I know something might be uncomfortable or painful, I typically procrastinate or avoid it. Sure, some days when I feel bold, intentional, or ambitious, I’ll take on a task or situation that I know will be challenging. Still, my first inclination is to avoid or delay whatever it is. Other factors, like my perceived or felt safety for that day, influence much of this.
2. Fear of Punishment
Outside of the pain or discomfort brought on by our actions, we often avoid God, fearing God’s discipline following disobedience. The story of Jonah illustrates this vividly—he ran in the opposite direction of God’s call, afraid of the consequences of obedience (Jonah 1:1-3).
However, Hebrews 12:6 reminds us that God’s discipline is an expression of His love, designed to guide us back to Him, not to push us away.
3. The Desire to Control
Reflecting on instances where we disobey God, it is easy to see how our disobedience comes from a desire to go our own way rather than surrendering to God’s will. We see examples of this back in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. Think about it like this: have you ever had a friend who had a differing opinion on how something should go, and you pushed back, insisting your way was right? You maintain that your idea is better even when you discover your friend was right.
Why is that? Why can’t we admit that our friend is right? One reason is we must acknowledge that our friend’s way or idea is better than ours. When we disobey God, we must do the same when surrendering to His will. Proverbs 14:12 warns, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.”
The path toward surrender is one we must choose each and every day, but it is necessary for a life aligned with God.
4. A Distorted View of God
I don’t want to minimize feelings of guilt and shame, but I suspect many of us also fear punishment and struggle with the desire for control. As I stated above, humans avoid pain and seek comfort. Those are all valid reasons, but I believe it also has to do with our view of God.
Depending on your upbringing, you could have had a very healthy, safe home, or your home could have been a place where you felt you could not trust your parents or others. Again, this is a very complex topic, but I suspect we do not run toward God following disobedience because we may doubt his goodness. Yes, I know. That’s a difficult statement to swallow.
If we grew up in a home where it was difficult to trust our parents, these circumstances could significantly impact how we see God. If we see God as harsh or unmerciful, we might avoid Him out of fear of rejection. Our challenges from the past can distort our view of God’s character, which contrasts with Scripture. In Psalm 103:8 it describes God as compassionate and gracious, “slow to anger, abounding in love.”
Recognizing God’s true nature will help us approach Him confidently, knowing He welcomes us with open arms. Still, many of us hold a distorted view of God. This distorted view can cause us to doubt God’s character and His goodness.
5. Spiritual Blindness or Hardness of Heart
Repetitive or persistent disobedience can often lead to a hardening of our hearts or what is referred to as spiritual blindness. In time, we can become less sensitive to the voice of God and more set in our ways. In Ephesians 4:18-19, Paul describes this saying, “They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.”
This topic easily warrants an article by itself, but from a high level, breaking free requires repentance and a softened heart through God’s grace.
6. Pride or Self-Sufficiency
We think pretty highly of ourselves, don’t we? Going back to the analogy shared in 3. The Desire for Control: why can’t we admit that our friend’s way or idea was better than ours? One of the reasons is our need for control, but there are likely others. Likewise, why can’t we humbly go to God and surrender to His will? One word…PRIDE.
Pride can prevent us from admitting our wrongs and seeking forgiveness. Instead, we try to fix things ourselves, unwilling to acknowledge our dependence on Him. But Proverbs 16:18 reminds us, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Humbly turning to God allows Him to restore us.
7. Influence of the Enemy
I want to preface this paragraph by acknowledging that the Enemy is not responsible for everything. Let’s do our best to be aware of Satan’s tactics but not get obsessed, blaming everything on him. Satan actively works to keep us from God. He uses guilt, shame, and lies to convince us that we are beyond redemption. Revelation 12:10 describes Satan as the accuser who seeks to separate us from God.
However, Jesus’ victory over sin and death ensures that no accusation can stand against us when we are in Christ (Romans 8:33-34).
8. Fear of Exposure or Judgment by Others
Not everyone can be trusted with your personal struggles. Many times, the fear of being judged by others keeps us from returning to God. The act of confessing our sins can feel intimidating, especially in a space where there is pressure to appear righteous. However, James 5:16 teaches, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”
Authentic community and confession bring healing and restoration.
9. Comfort in Sin
Let’s face it: sin can be fun for a while. Disobedience often provides temporary pleasure or convenience, making it challenging to let go. Hebrews 11:25 highlights this struggle, describing how Moses rejected “the fleeting pleasures of sin” in favor of God’s purpose.
Choosing to turn from sin may be challenging but ultimately leads to true freedom and joy in Christ.
10. Doubts About Forgiveness
Doubts about God’s forgiveness fall closely in line with fear of punishment. Some may run from God because they doubt that He will forgive them. This is especially true if they’ve failed repeatedly. Yet the Bible assures us of His faithfulness: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
No sin is too great for God’s mercy.
11. Exhaustion or Discouragement
Failure is a huge trigger for many. After repeated failures, we may feel too weary to seek God again, falsely believing that change is impossible. But Jesus offers hope to the weary: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
The reassuring truth is that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.
The Hope of Reconciliation
While we run from God after disobedience for many reasons, the good news is that He never stops pursuing us. His love is relentless, and His grace is sufficient for every failure. Isaiah 1:18 captures His heart perfectly:
“‘Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’”
No matter how far we’ve run, God is always ready to welcome us back with open arms. Let us actively choose to stop running and return to the One who loves us unconditionally.
2 Mistakes Every Believer Makes When Dealing With Disobedience
As a follower of Jesus Christ, I seem to mess up a lot. Do you ever feel this way?
As with most things in life, many believers, including myself, falsely believe this process will get easier the longer they follow God. Early in our relationship with Jesus, it is reasonable to think that surely we will get better at obeying God with more experience. Surely, right?!?
I wish it were as easy and direct as an equation.
Relationship with God + Dedication + time = obedience miraculously getting easier
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