Just as there are benefits that come from pressing into the presence of God, there are also penalties incurred for running from it.

The classic biblical example of someone who ran from God's presence is Jonah. Look with me at his story:

Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
Jonah 1:1-3

Jonah, as a prophet of God, should have known better. He should have been aware that staying in the will and presence of the Lord is where the benefits are. But, like all of us do from time to time, Jonah decided he had a better handle on the situation than God did.

Instead of obeying and staying under the protection of God's shadow, he took off in another direction.

As a child of God, don't ever move out from under God's umbrella of protection. Don't ever move out of the secret place of the Most High. It's dangerous out there! Whenever you run away from God, you're on your own. Jonah discovered this in a hurry:

But the Lord sent out [allowed] a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
(Jonah 1:4)

When, out of rebellion or disobedience, you flee from the presence of God, instead of provision, you will experience lack. Instead of peace and security, you will experience fear. Instead of health, you will open yourself to every vile thing the enemy tries to put on you.

Source: Answers Awaiting in the Presence of God by Creflo A. Dollar, Jr.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers