Never Alone

One of my favorite T.V. shows is "Alone."  Ten people are placed in the wild, isolated from one another, to see who can survive the longest. On one particular season, I was positive in my assessment who would survive the longest.  The individual I picked was the one who obviously seemed best suited to surviving. He built the best structure, he made the greatest traps for catching game and seemed to be the best nourished of all the other contestants. But, as people started to drop off and he was left with just a few others, he decided to tap out. I was stunned at his reason.  He stated, "the hardest part of the contest was being isolated or alone."  This feeling of being alone has plagued humans throughout our existence.  It causes many to come to a point of despair.

As individual's we were never meant to be alone. We were meant to be in a relationship with God.  When we are feeling lonely, we need to take a step back, and realize we are never really alone.

First, we can take comfort that God is with us no matter what situation we find ourselves in.  When David was on the run and experienced one of the darkest times in his life, he was comforted by God's continual presence.  David penned this beautiful statement during a time of darkness - "Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4 NLT)."  While Paul was in prison, Jesus comforted and spoke to Paul that he (Jesus) would be with him (Acts 23:11).  God's comfort is always there, especially during times of darkness and loneliness.

Secondly, we can grow and learn during times of loneliness and isolation.  Loneliness can actually draw us closer to the Lord if we realize He is there for us and wants to encourage us.  Again, we find this passage about David, when he was completely isolated and seemed to be without hope - "David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God (1 Samuel 30:6 NLT)." Loneliness is surely one of the great trials of life, but it's during this time where we can learn and grow and find strength in the Lord.  James, opens his epistle by saying, "2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing (James 1 NLT)." Being alone can offer a great opportunity to grow and actually strengthen your faith in the Lord.

Finally, we always need to realize that we are never really alone.  When the disciples were afraid and hiding out after knowing Jesus had died, Jesus appears to them. The first thing Jesus tells his frightened friends is, "Peace be with you (John 20:19)." Jesus tells the whole world that they are never alone, that his peace and comfort is always available. 

Perhaps the most troubling time for the followers of Jesus was when Jesus was going to ascend to be with the Father.  Maybe they thought, we are going to be all alone again.  Jesus comforted his disciples with these words, "And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20b NLT).” Before the ascension actually took place, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit or comforter (Acts 1:8-9). God reassures His continual presence with us.

The very last book of the Bible is Revelation. In fact, the very last line of Revelation reads, "May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people (Revelation 22:21)." Did you catch it?  The Lord Jesus is always with God's holy people.  You are never alone.