The Deception of Being Alone — Broken & Hopeful
When I was in the mountains last, I saw a tiny tree growing out of a rock and was struck by how if you looked from a certain angle, it looked like it was all alone. But when you shifted your perspective, you realized the tree was part of a vast forest of trees all around it. None were growing straight out of a rock like this little guy, but it was not alone. (I’ve posted the pictures of the tree at the end of the post, so you can see it for yourself.)
I have friends who, during this stay-at-home season, are suffering through all by themselves. They are isolated in an apartment, have lost their jobs and are trying to find ways to entertain themselves and keep busy.
Sometimes even when we live with others and have good connections, we can feel alone. I was struggling with that feeling recently—feeling that I was slugging it out all by myself. Everyone else seemed to have a team or an ally in their work, and then there was me. I suppose some of that comes with working in a one-woman nonprofit ministry. But God started showing me that the idea that I am alone in this battle is a deception.
I can feel like I’m all by myself, but that isn’t the truth. When I allow it to pervade my thoughts, feel sorry for myself and let the discouragement sink in, I am stagnated by a lie! There are, in fact, two very important reasons we are not alone.
The first is that God is always with us. He says in Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5 that He’s never going to leave us or forsake us. God is faithful, and never abandons His children. No matter what you are experiencing right now, He is emotionally connected to you during it and never leaves you in it.
Yes, there are times when He seems quiet, and when we can make ourselves believe that He has indeed left. But we must take Him at His word, as He does not lie. (Hebrews 6:18) God has said that we are in Christ and Christ is in us, and through this, the whole Trinity is with us all the time. (Colossians 2:9-10) We are created for relationship and intimacy, and the deception of being alone convinces us that we don’t have it. But God is constantly putting us in places to know Him, encouraging that relationship as it means so much to Him. We are not alone, for God Almighty is with us.
The other reason we are not alone is because we are part of the body of Christ. I don’t mean a church building or a denomination, but the living bride of Christ on the earth. We are connected by the Holy Spirit, and can encourage and love on each other throughout the time here.
This interconnectedness is something that is beyond my comprehension, but I can choose to enjoy all that each member of the body brings to my life. Some are encouragers, some are pray-ers, some are truth-tellers, some are joy-bringers and others are thinkers who help me evaluate and think through to the truth.
When we can learn to enjoy the body of Christ and not be threatened because someone else has a gifting that we don’t, we can flourish and operate in our own role in the body while operating from the source of Christ. We also are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses of those who have gone on to be in heaven who cheer us on. (Hebrews 12:1)
All of this means that I am never alone. When you start to feel that way, remember that being alone is a deception that the enemy wants you to believe. You are not on your own, and you never will be. God is with you and will never leave you, and you have an incredibly body of believers who are also with you in the battle.
Do not yield to fear, for I am always near. Never turn your gaze from me, for I am your faithful God. I will infuse you with my strength and help you in every situation. I will hold you firmly with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Be devoted to tenderly loving your fellow believers as members of one family. Try to outdo yourselves in respect and honor of one another. Romans 12:10
