I trust in the Lord for protection. So why do you say to me, ‘Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety’?” Psalm 11:1 (NLT)
Have you ever received well-meaning advice that felt more like pressure to panic than a source of peace? David found himself in precisely this situation. We don’t know the specific danger he was facing, but his advisors were crystal clear about their solution: “Run to the mountains! Flee! Take matters into your own hands and get to safety!”
On the surface, their advice seemed wise. The mountains represented the ultimate survival strategy in David’s time—they offered military advantage, hiding places, and natural resources to sustain life when cities became too dangerous. From a human perspective, this counsel was practical, immediate, and within David’s control.
However, David recognized something crucial that his advisors missed. They were placing their trust in creation rather than the Creator. While mountains are enormous and impressive, God is infinitely bigger than anything He has made. David understood that his ultimate protection didn’t come from geographical high ground but from the Most High God.
This same tension plays out in our lives today. As women, we often face moments when everyone around us seems to be shouting, “Run! Flee! Take control!” The advice might involve leaving a difficult marriage before seeking counseling and prayer, switching jobs at the first sign of conflict rather than trusting God’s timing, or removing our children from challenging situations instead of teaching them to stand firm in their faith.
We understand this tension because the natural response when we’re scared or circumstances look bleak is to want to run. Staying put, living in the uncomfortable tension, and resisting the urge to flee feels counterintuitive. Trusting God can seem less practical and productive than taking immediate action. Yet feelings should never dictate our decisions—God’s Word should guide us.
Like David, we can choose faith over flight because we serve the Ultimate Protector. The Almighty, the unchanging One, the victor of every battle, is the One who guards our lives. The world’s solutions, no matter how logical they appear, can never offer what He can. God sustains us and gives us courage to face problems head-on, knowing that through Christ, we already have the ultimate victory—eternal life that can never be taken away.
When the temptation to “flee to the mountains” arises in your life, resist the urge by stopping to pray first. Ask God for the strength to live in the tension of facing the problem rather than running from it. Seek His wisdom about whether He’s calling you to stay and trust or take action—but let His will guide your decision, not fear.
REFLECT
Think about a current situation where you’re feeling pressured to “run to the mountains” for safety. How might God be calling you to trust Him instead of taking matters into your own hands? What would it look like to choose faith over flight in this specific circumstance?
