Never Alone

I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. 

(John 14:18, NKJV)

There are situations in life that leave us feeling all alone and yes very alone.  There is a sense that no one has the ability to fully understand what we are going through.  It does not matter that others have gone through similar situations, each one of us experiences it at a personal level.  These happenings are different to different people, it could be the loss of a loved one, a medical diagnosis, a calamity, a life changing situation, whatever it is the depth of the pain that an individual experiences is numbing.  On a personal level, I have described such moments as ‘sitting alone in the dark with no light in sight’.  Such experiences leave us feeling helpless and overwhelmed, with no or little strength for anything else.  In my view, it is the depth of loneliness at the heart level, which if not dealt with could lead to future struggles. 

It is in moments of this deep emotional turmoil that the verse above comes to mind.  It was Jesus who spoke it as He told His disciples of His departure.  The disciples were rightly disturbed, they had left their families to follow Jesus and had learnt to trust Him with their lives.  His departure meant that they would have to navigate life without Him and they did not know how what would turn out.  Jesus equating the pain of the disciples to that of an orphan, reassured them that He was going to send them a helper, the Holy Spirit.  I find it instructive that Jesus chooses to make reference to orphans.  Those who have lost their parents know of a situation irredeemable and a pain that lingers over years.  It is one of the deepest ache that one lives through.  Jesus in using this reference when giving an assurance of help, makes us know that God will truly be with us even when all else is deem.  The Holy Spirit reaches into the depth of our situation  and hurt, sits with us and then lifts us up to the next step.

Beloved, when we live on this earth, we shall experience pain and heartache.  Jesus Himself knew this and so He prayed to His Father, that we would be protected. He did not ask that we should be removed from the world but that we should be protected from the evil one (John 17:15).  Yes we might go through days when all looks dark; in those times may our hearts be reminded that Jesus prayed for us.  David the psalmist gave us a familiar chapter referencing the Lord as his shepherd, and in one part he says that though he goes through the valley of the shadow of death, he will fear no evil for the Lord is the with him (Psalm 23:4).  Let us capture the imagery here, there is a valley which has a shadow of death, not death itself but a shadow of it, yet David confidently says that he goes through.  That 7 lettered word “through” is my encouragement to us today.  The shadows and struggles will come our way and yes, we shall feel the pain of it all, may our hearts be comforted and strengthened by the fact that we do not dwell in that space but we pass through.  Seasons change and so do circumstances of life, our perspectives to challenges also change, and with each day, there is renewed strength.  Brethren, even in the midst of it all, may we not lose our hope and faith in God, He knows we are here on earth and He promises to be with us to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).  May the assurance of His presence as we do life with Him be our strength when we pass through the valleys of life.  Be encouraged in the Lord, He holds you securely in His love.

Thoughts:

What struggles are you facing today?

When have you seen God in His faithfulness hold you together?

How have you encouraged others in their pain?