Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
Be strong and bold; have no fear... because it is the Lord your God who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.
Deuteronomy: 6, 8
Do you ever feel like God is a million miles away, and you are alone? Life can be difficult. You may face a deep loss of a loved one. You may face abuse or mistreatment. You may face guilt. You may face health problems, financial problems, or challenges that are just too great to deal with. Sometimes it may feel like everything is going against you in life. You may feel frightened and very small and alone.
You’re not the only one who has ever wondered where God is during a struggle. Many of the lives of the people in the Bible include periods of loneliness, and their stories stand as testimonies for us. The disciples felt abandoned, alone and devastated after Jesus’ death on the cross. They thought Jesus was the Messiah, and their dream was crushed. Hagar and Ishmael were cast out into the desert, and she even sat down to die, feeling that she and her son were totally alone and without help before God rescued them. Elijah fled for his life into the wilderness where he was totally alone. Miriam was struck with leprosy and was shut outside of the camp for seven days where she was lonely and vulnerable.
God hasn’t promised that we won’t suffer in this life, but He has told us that he’ll walk through our valleys with us. He’ll be right by our side, and his grace will be enough. 1 Peter 5:10 says, “After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
The good news is that the loneliness is just a feeling, whereas God is truly with you through all your struggles. He is in your corner. You may have forgotten that, and you can remind yourself of his continued presence. Stop and look at the many ways that God has taken care of you. Keep reminding yourself of that. Ask God to show himself to you. He wants you to see him. He wants you to know that you are never alone. I find it very difficult to not feel alone when facing struggles. Please join me in asking God to help us remember that he is with us always.
God bless you!
Elizabeth
