02/27/2022
Have we ever considered what it means to be alone, and how it can sometimes be pleasant to be without people around us, while at other times it is pure misery or sorrow? Yet, being alone when it comes to being separated from, or left without God, is never good. Last night Pastor L. H. Hardwick, the most amazing man of God I have ever personally known, went to be with the Lord, and today I feel an emptiness associated with his death, but as I prayed through the night I felt close to God as I was comforted by His presence.
“And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.”
Genesis 32:24 ESV
There are times when the prophets were alone, but only from the presence of men. They would often find a solitary place where they could be away from others, so that they could be closer to God, and hear His voice. They wanted to be free of everyday distractions, and left alone with the Lord Himself, and these were the times that He spoke clearly to them. Like Elijah who went alone to a cave on the mountain where he heard God’s whisper…
“And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?””
1 Kings 19:12-13 ESV
Then there was Samuel… as a young novice he heard God calling him while he was falling asleep alone, but Samuel thought it was Eli calling him, so he went to him and asked if he had called. Of course Eli said no, but when Eli finally realized that it was God who was calling his young disciple he instructed him to go back to where he was alone, and when God called him this time to answer Him by saying “Speak Lord”,
“Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.””
1 Samuel 3:9-10 ESV
So being alone with God is always good. We all want to go off to be alone with Him, like Jesus did, when He separated Himself to be ray to His Heavenly Father. Sometimes we want to lean on His promise that we are never alone, even when we are surrounded by people, yet feel lonely in a crowd. Listen to the words of Jesus…
“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
Last night I prayed through the night for the soul of Pastor Hardwick, the man who once lifted me up from the waters of baptism, and who spoke the Word of God to me so often that I could almost hear his voice as I read scripture. I recalled the first time he asked me to close a Sunday service in prayer, and how special I felt to be honored by him in this way. I prayed for his wife, sons, grandchildren, and all those who loved him, and who would mourn him deeply. All of us would feel alone without him, and many of us will weep at our loss…
“Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!””
John 11:32-36 ESV
On the other hand, it can be good to be left alone by people so that in the stillness of silence we can feel God with us, and in the quiet we can give our thoughts over to Him. It is in the silence of the wilderness we can hear His voice… even in the slightest breeze, or our softest breath. Moses was alone with his sheep when God calked him to lead the Israelites out of bondage, Samuel was alone when God called Him, Elijah was alone on the mountain, and Jesus was alone so many times as he prayed.
“But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.”
Luke 5:15-16 ESV
Do you ever feel the need for solitude? Do you need time by yourself to gather your thoughts, or to refresh yourself? When we say, or feel, that we are alone in these moments do you ever consider that God is still there? He alone can be perfectly still, perfectly quiet, and yet perfectly attentive to our every thought, and need. Isn’t it wonderful that we can be separated from men, feel alone, and yet without a second thought begin to pray? Being alone is never what it seems because we are never without God.
“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
Isaiah 57:15 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for never leaving us alone, and for hearing the silence, the imperceptible sound of every tear as it etches it’s way down our face as we cry at the loss of a loved one. Thank you Lord for allowing us to be alone from man, while present with you, and for tending to our hearts as they break for those we’ve lost… even for a moment. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who knows our hearts, and fills our silence with comfort. Praised be your name for our tears, and your hand that dries them. Merciful are you who gives us hope, and reassures us that being without our lives is short lived in Christ. Wash us with the blood of Jesus, and prepare us to see you in all of your glory, and to hear even the lowest whisper of grace. Call us worthy Father, and lift us up to be with you in eternity.
“And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.”
Matthew 17:2-3 ESV
Rich Forbes