Running From God

By Monica R. Hayes

I began writing this book in 2005 after moving into my house, the house I dreamed of having, and I thought everything was finally going to be perfect. The year 2005 was the beginning of more change than I could have ever imagined. My son was deployed to Iraq, my daughter was dealing with personal issues,

• Language: English
• Publisher: Monica R. Hayes
• Release date: Feb 26, 2024
• ISBN: 9798890216373

Monica R. Hayes

Monica R. Hayes is a single mom of two children; a son and a daughter with 6 grandchildren, 4 beautiful girls and 2 handsome boys. She is the proud daughter of a 32 year Army veteran, a wonderful, committed, stay at home mom and sister of 3 great siblings. She is the proud mother of her son, a retired 20 year Army veteran that persevered through 6 deployments being absent from his wife and children. She also has an amazing daughter, loving and caring daughter, with a successful career and wonderful family. She has been fortunate to live in the US and Europe. In her many adventures, as a child she grew up with her mothers family in Munich and many other Army bases in Germany and France; giving her priceless experiences with people from all walks of life. She lived and worked for a major corporation for several years in Massachusetts before moving to Georgia. Living in the south was a major adjustment that encouraged some of the reasons to begin writing. After several years of retirement and living in Georgia, she moved to Florida and is now enjoying a new and exciting chapter in her life. As a single mom working full time and pursuing her education, time seemed limited, its a blessing to be instrumental in the lives of her grandchildren, being part of who they become, and sharing moments as they grow up. She feels extremely blessed at this stage of her life to have good health, and support of a loving family to realize her dreams of writing and becoming a public speaker.

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Running From God

Running From God

Monica Hayes

Running from God

©٢٠٢٤ by Monica Hayes All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Published by Monica Hayes

ISBN: 979-8-89021-638-0 Paperback

ISBN: 979-8-89021-639-7 Hardback

ISBN: 979-8-89021-637-3 eBook

Library of Congress No.: 2017919693

Printed in the United States of America

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

This book is dedicated to my mother, Helga Vogt Hayes.

My role model for how I live my life. She was my strength, taught me tenacity, and endurance. My mom left my family with a legacy of love and respect. You are forever in my heart, Moni.

INTRODUCTION

As I started my journey of understanding who God is; my conversations with people about who God is and isn’t in their lives gave me the inspiration to write. The struggle was the same running from God, not realizing how running to God changes lives. The common theme was and still is the belief that we all have a purpose. The challenge is to identify with confidence and assurance what that purpose is.

I based my book on Jonah, who ran entirely in the opposite direction from what God had directed. Just like us, we can’t see beyond our own desires. We run from God in many ways. We know situations and circumstances aren’t how we hoped for, always searching for something and trying to fill a gap. In conversation with relatives, friends, co-workers, and associates from different cultures and backgrounds, the challenge and struggle is the same. I truly believe we all have similar wants and desire to be fulfilled, happy, have peace of mind, the ability and means to provide and care for self and loved ones, have good health, and a healthy, meaningful relationship with that special person.

The question is: How do we get there? The answer is easy; it requires a commitment, renewing our mind and changing how we think. Whether we accept it or not, the fulfillment of our current and future lives comes from God. His plan and purpose for every soul on earth is for good, and we must choose.

The choice is a very personal decision.

THE BEGINNING OF THE JOURNEY

From the beginning, our direction is pre-determined and in motion. (Jeremiah 1:1-5) The Word of the Lord came to me, saying, Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I set you apart: I appointed you as a prophet to the nation. The direction was established and set in motion before conception. We can’t choose our journey, but we can determine how we travel the journey. Jonah chose his direction and almost lost his life and the lives of others. He became bitter and resentful.

Let God have His way, running to and not running from Him. We may not tell anyone or talk about the internal confusion and emptiness that never seems satisfied. We hear and read about how other lives have changed, but what about my life? It’s our thinking and strong will to have it our way. I did, and, at times, still do, struggle to let go of my independent