Retreating Or Advancing!

April 24, 2025

Retreating Or Advancing!

Two guys leave the large city with heads hung low.  As they reflect upon the events of the previous week, they become more discouraged, more disappointed, and more despondent.  They are retreating to their home in a small town called Emmaus. 

These two men were traveling on a road that many of us have taken or may be taking right now.  It is the road of retreat, it is the road of withdrawal, it is the road of hiding from the truth.  Like you and me, these men end up seeking refuge when instead they should be pushing forward in a posture of advance. 

Listen to their story in the Gospel of Luke.  In Luke 24:13-21 we hear; 

“Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.” 

“While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.  And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad.”

“Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?’  He asked them, ‘What things?’  They replied, ‘The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him.  But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.’”

Confusion, fear, and sadness compromise their ability to advance the Kingdom of God, to share the good news that the Savior has come, the Savior forgives, the Savior heals, the Savior restores, the Savior wins the battle over the power of darkness and death.  Their witness is compromised, their spirit is defeated, and they are convinced that both Jesus and they have failed.

Things were going well for me and my work.  And then, out of nowhere a close friend betrayed me.  The betrayal felt like an attack meant to destroy me and my career.  At first, I stood up strong to address the breach in our relationship.  I gave time in prayer and conversation as I did my best to reconcile the injury.

However, the longer the other person resisted reconciliation, the longer the other person continued to undermine me.  And, the longer the other person persisted in compromising me and destroying my career, the more I was tempted to retreat. 

My sharing of the good news of Jesus became less passionate, my witness to the Kingdom of God in our midst became less fervent, and my trust in God’s people became less eager.

I fought the temptation to retreat rather than continuing to advance the Kingdom of God.  But, the confusion and the fear and the sadness compromised my ability and desire to advance the Kingdom of God. 

Sometimes the pain can be so deep we choose retreat and defeat and desperation rather than trusting Jesus will bring us through the pain.  W forget that both in and on the other side of our pain, there are often new possibilities and opportunities to advance the Kingdom of God.

Like the two men retreating to their home in a small town, we often choose to retreat because the pain is too great.  Sadly, we miss seeing that the living Lord is right there by our side.  Jesus is there to pull us up from the place where we have fallen.  Jesus is there to hold our hand when we are not sure we want to leave our place and our posture of retreat.

In Psalm 37:23-24 King David says, “Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when he delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand.”

When I feel like retreating because the pain is too deep, I remember this verse.  It reminds me that Jesus is guiding each of my steps, Jesus is with me when I stumble, and Jesus will not let me fall flat and not get up again.  Jesus holds me by the hand!

If you or someone about whom you care is in a place or posture of retreat right now, I encourage you and them to memorize Psalm 37:23-24. 

Begin by reading these two verses each hour for seven hours a day for the next seven days. 

The world may crush our dreams, may inflict pain indescribable, or may leave us wanting to do nothing more than retreat in our defeat.  But, Jesus has us by the hand and will not let us stay forever retreating, forever defeated, forever discouraged.

With time, this promise of Jesus will begin to change your thinking, heal your heart, and revive your soul.  When you begin to see the fruit of taking hold of Jesus’ outstretched hand, your heart and His heart will fill with delight.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug