12/04/2022
How much time do we spend alone in a quiet place by ourselves? When we think back on such periods of solitude what were we contemplating during them? For the Christian we are spending this time in deep and peaceful conversation with God; sometimes without a word spoken. When we do speak during these periods of calm and quiet, we not only hear His small still voice but we speak to Him in one as well. All of the turmoil, and the loud voices of everyday life, are stilled. We discuss our problems and seek His help, but it is with the assurance that He is there, and will lead us through them, even providing us with an escape.
“And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,”
Matthew 14:23 ESV
Isn’t it interesting how we refer to such times? We hear phrases like the two we just read in our opening verse… “by himself”, and “he was there alone”, but are we ever truly alone? Was Jesus alone on the mountain? We may be there without any human company, but God is with us always, and as Christian’s we know that Jesus abides in us, and we in Him, and that the Holy Spirit is with us forever. So although we might say that we are alone it actually mean something different. Have you heard it spoken like this: “I was alone with my thoughts” or “I was speaking to myself alone”? Were we really, or were we unknowingly reaching out towards God?
God knew from the beginning that we needed companionship, and that it wasn’t good for us to be alone. We don’t do well when we are alone,
not physically alone, without one another…
“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.””
Genesis 2:18 ESV
nor spiritually alone. And, we are reassured over and over again in scripture that this is not the case…
God said it:
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.””
Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV
Jesus said it:
“teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
Matthew 28:20 ESV
And this is why the Holy Spirit was promised to us:
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
John 14:16-17 ESV
Alone can mean that there is physically no one else with us, but it can also mean that although we are with someone we simply aren’t communicating or associating with them. Two people can be together in the same room and yet each consider themselves to be alone. We hear people express how they were physically in a crowded place but still felt lonely, or how they were in a relationship that had grown distant to the point that they now felt alone. More often than not, being alone is a state of mind in which we are no longer associating with others… we can even block out their physical presence. This is what is occurring when we think that God has abandoned us, because in truth He is there, and has been all along… we only imagine ourselves to be alone. This is also what can happen in a marriage if we don’t work at remaining one… physically, spiritually, and in the flesh.
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.””
Hebrews 13:5 ESV
So although we go off somewhere to be “alone” God is with us, and if we are in a relationship that is beginning to fade and we are feeling alone, or abandoned, it is simply a state of mind… take action, and lean on our Heavenly Father in prayer by praying like this…
“Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.”
Psalm 25:16-17 ESV
And if we pray this way the Lord will hear us and will help us because he knows that we are not meant to be absolutely alone.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being with us always, and knowing that it is not good for us to be alone. Thank you for walking beside us on the mountains as we seek respite in you, Jesus, and your Holy Spirit, from the turmoil of daily life, and for strengthening our spirits as we lean on you. Thank you for giving us in marriage and establishing families and friendships with one another, so that physically we will not be alone either. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who assures us that we are not alone, and hears our prayers for love and companionship. Praised be your name for every moment you are with us in the quiet places, and for helping us to repair broken relationships, or the broken hearts left behind by those we have lost to the world. Merciful are you for the comfort you provide us in the peace and solitude of our secret places, quiet places, mountains, and all those times when we are together whispering, and speaking with one another in small still voices. Great are you who shares your presence with us and saves us from the loneliness in our spirits. Wise are you who created Eve from Adam, and conquered the loneliness in our lives as we walk daily in your creation. Wash us clean in the blood of Jesus as you remove every sin, and judge us worthy of eternity in your presence… to be with you always… never alone. Let your grace be sufficient for us, and bring us together forevermore. Father, mother, children, friends, and companions in every journey; in all of life.
Rich Forbes