Run With Purpose, Not Panic

By Danny Saavedra

“Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, ‘Let me run and carry news to the king that the Lord has delivered him from the hand of his enemies.’ And Joab said to him, ‘You are not to carry news today. You may carry news another day, but today you shall carry no news, because the king's son is dead.’ Then Joab said to the Cushite, ‘Go, tell the king what you have seen.’ The Cushite bowed before Joab, and ran. Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, ‘Come what may, let me also run after the Cushite.’ And Joab said, ‘Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news?’ ‘Come what may,’ he said, ‘I will run.’ So he said to him, ‘Run.’ Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.”—2 Samuel 18:19-23 (ESV)

“See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me...And no one knows, how far it goes.” These are the words sung by the young Moana as she prepared to depart her island into the unknown. Even as a small child, she heard the call before she understood the mission. She stood on the shore, staring at the horizon, singing. Deep down, she felt drawn to something bigger than herself. She wasn’t a way-finder, she didn’t know how to sail, and she had no idea what was beyond that shimmering line...but still, she knew she had to go. There was this sense of calling, mixed with a duty to save her people, even though she wasn’t fully equipped.

Ahimaaz had a similar pull. But the mission he wanted to take wasn’t as simple as delivering a victory speech. His commander, Joab, hadn’t just secured a military triumph because Absalom—David’s own son—was dead. The news wasn’t simply about a rebellion crushed but about a broken family, a fractured kingdom, and the culmination of decades of David’s moral and spiritual failures as a husband and father. Joab knew how devastating this news would be, which is why he told Ahimaaz, “You are not to carry news today...because the king’s son is dead.”

Ahimaaz was a priest’s son, known for his zeal and speed, but Joab knew this wasn’t a race to be won. Instead, it was a deep burden to be carried. This young man burned with eagerness to prove himself, to show loyalty to the king, but he wasn’t the right man for this message. The Cushite, on the other hand, was a servant sent—not driven by his own ambition, but chosen for this task. He ran not to make a name for himself but to fulfill his assignment, no matter how heavy it felt.

But Ahimaaz couldn’t let it go. “Come what may, let me also run,” he pleaded. And, finally, Joab relented: “Run.” So Ahimaaz took off, chose the easier route, and even outran the Cushite. He arrived first.

At first glance, it looks impressive. Ahimaaz had the speed, the drive, and the determination to get there ahead of the one Joab had actually sent. But the reality is sobering: running ahead doesn’t mean you’re ready. Beating someone else to the finish line doesn’t mean you’re carrying what’s needed.

This isn’t just a historical tidbit...it’s a mirror for us. You see, Ahimaaz had the ambition but wasn’t given the assignment; he had the motivation, but it wasn’t his time to deliver the message. How many times have we rushed ahead, convinced we needed to act, speak, fix, or prove ourselves, only to realize we weren’t actually carrying what God wanted us to deliver?

I know what that’s like. Around 15 years ago, I wanted to prove myself in ministry and “build” a super successful youth and young adult ministry at a church that had 25 members—all of whom were older than 65. I was convinced this was my moment to deliver, but it wasn’t God’s timing for me to step into ministry leadership. I had the wrong idea of what success looked like and approached the building of the ministry the wrong way. And man...did I learn some humbling lessons.

The hard dynamic at play for us is that we live in a world that celebrates hustle and encourages ambition. We applaud people for showing up early, staying late, and going the extra mile. But in the kingdom of God, faithfulness, obedience, and calling are what matters, not ambition or ability.

So, while this messenger serves as a caution for us, he also points to a great Messenger. Jesus didn’t run ahead of the Father’s timing. All throughout the Gospels, we see Him walking in step with the Spirit, never rushing to impress or to make something happen. We read statements like, “My time has not yet fully come” (John 7:8), which is then contrasted with “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you” (John 17:1 ESV). And because He did all things according to the will of the Father, we have salvation and eternal life available to us!

Friend, maybe today you feel like running. You want to do something, fix something, prove yourself to someone. Pause and ask: “Is this from the Lord? Is He calling me to do this right now? Does He want me to wait? Am I just restless?” The call of Jesus isn’t to run faster, but to abide deeper each and every day!

When we slow down long enough to listen, we’ll find the Spirit giving us clarity, courage, and the exact message we need to carry. And when He says, “Run,” may we run with purpose, not panic...with His message, not our own.

Pause: Where in your life are you tempted to sprint ahead of God’s timing? Are you trying to carry a message or burden He hasn’t assigned to you?

Practice: Take five minutes today to sit quietly before the Lord. Ask Him: “What have You truly called me to carry in this season? Where am I striving out of restlessness instead of obedience?” Write down anything He brings to mind.

Pray: Father, slow my restless heart. Teach me to wait on Your timing, to listen for Your voice, and to only run when You send me. Help me to trust that Your pace is perfect and that Your plans are better than my ambition. Fill me with self-control and humility to carry only what You’ve placed in my hands. I want to run the race You’ve marked out for me with purpose, not panic. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.