NEVER ALONE

Feelings can be tricky.  Have you ever been in a crowd of people and felt alone?  You probably have.  I know I have.  Or have you ever been out with a small group, like two or three people, but felt more alone than if you actually were by yourself?  It’s a pretty awful feeling, and yet we just proved my point - feelings can be tricky.  In both cases you weren’t alone, but you sure felt alone. 

There was a great prophet in the Bible who’s name was Elijah.  He’s famous today, but he was pretty well-known even in his day.  He had accomplished some great things.  Let’s put it this way, in the world of prophet-duties and success he had basically “knocked the ball out of the park”.  Yet with all of his “God” victories he felt alone, even forsaken. 

In 1 Kings 19 Elijah is on the run from Queen Jezebel, and yes, she is as wicked and mean as she sounds.  Elijah gets out in a remote place in the desert and he feels alone.  You might say, “Come on Stephen this is a case when his feelings are right on - he is alone!”  Is he really? 

He just so happened upon a white broom tree, which is perfect for shade, and its soft leaves would have made such a comfortable bed for him.  If the tree were in bloom there would have been thousands of soft blooms providing a soothing scent to refresh him.  While he slept God sent an angel who touched him and said, “Arise and eat.”  The angel had made a fire, bread was already baked, and there was a bottle of water there - I believe that was the beginning of the bottled water industry.  God arranged that meal delivery twice for Elijah.  So was he really alone? 

Still Elijah struggled with his deep depression.  God spoke to him and he responded by saying, “Oh I’m so glad you’re here with me God.”  No - not true.  When God spoke to Elijah he instantly went into a complaining and lamenting rant.  He said, “I’ve been all about you God and nothing’s worked out right.  Everyone in my country has turned their back on You, they’ve killed all prophets like me, and I am completely alone!” 

Sad.  I got depressed just listening to him whine!  God answers Elijah and says this: “I still have 7,000 who are loyal to me.”         

You may feel alone but the truth is, you’re not alone.  Feelings are a weak compass to live by.  If you’ve received Jesus as your Savior your family connection to God is unbreakable.  Listen to Hebrews 13:5, “for God Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]”.  What an amazing promise! 

Psalm 139 asks, “Where can I run from Your presence?  If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost part of the sea, even their shall Your hand lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.”  You are being watched over like you are the most valuable, high-worth relationship God the Father has.  You may feel alone, but in Christ, you are never, ever alone.  You are watched over, cared for, connected, directed, and protected. 

Just like Elijah though, you have choices.  You can eat the supply of bread and drink the water, or choose not to.  You can rest on the bed of scented, soft leaves, or lay on the hard, rocky ground.  You can believe your feelings and facts, or you can believe God’s truth.  You can go your own way and have God ask you, “Elijah what are you doing here?” or you can go the way His hand leads.  But after it’s all said and done, you are NEVER alone. 

Pray the Word: 

God forgive me of thinking You would ever leave me alone.  You’ve promised to never forsake me.  I choose to believe You over my feelings.  I choose to believe Your Word over my circumstances.  You told me in 2 Corinthians 5:7 to walk by faith and not by sight or feelings.  Help me Holy Spirit to do that.  It’s tempting to live according to my feelings but Jesus overcame all temptation with the Word, and so will I with Your help.  I am not alone, and You will never, never, ever leave me or forsake me.  Praise God!  In Jesus Name, Amen.