Not alone
I am not alone. Neither are you.
It’s a miracle, really. In a world full of autonomy and the emphasis on individual strength and fortitude, I find that we are largely missing the point. Largely missing out on the miraculous that renders our hope even possible.
Let me explain. It’s something I have been chewing on for a while now.
It has to do with the miracle of the Holy Spirit that indwells each believer’s heart. It is a gift of unmeasurable worth. It is a gift that mystifies as much as it clarifies.
So why do we continue to live our lives as if we are pretty much on our own, begging for a sign that God is with us? Why do I often hear the fervent pleas of believers entreating the Lord to “be with us.” I don’t mean to sound critical, but seriously. Think about it. If you believe the Truth about who Jesus is and that Scripture is inerrant and altogether true, then how can we ask such a thing unless we are not wholly convinced that He is not intimately within us already?
I confess that I am guilty, too, of such a limited and, well, human view of His relationship with me. And as humanity has (forever) worked diligently to understand God and His ways, we have drawn lines of comparison to how He works with how we work. It’s understandable, really. It’s just not accurate.
Here’s what I think. We have attempted to relate our relationship with the Lord far too “linearly.” We have related His love and care for us as we understand how other people relate and care for us – good or bad. We ask for what we need – express it, share it, hope for it, wait for it – and then we await the confirmation of that love and care by a response. It’s linear. Its back and forth. I tell you what I need and, if you love me, you meet that need (or not). You tell me what you need and, if I love and care for you, I meet your need. We may not do it perfectly, but we try. And I think we have thought the same of God, too…we ask, He tries.
And there’s the misunderstanding at its deepest level. God does not “try” to love us well, He is love. He does not make feeble attempts to search our hearts, He resides in our hearts. Is there anything more intimate?
Before a word is on our tongue, He knows it completely. (Psalm 139:4)
There is no where we can go where He is not with us. (Psalm 139:7-10)
Before one of our days has come to be, He wrote it down. (Psalm 139:16)
He knit us together in the innermost place and knows every detail of who we are. (Psalm 139:13)
He has engraved our names upon His hand. (Isaiah 49:16)
He delights and sings over us. (Zephaniah 3:17)
He loves us and nothing can separate us from that love. (Romans 3:38)
Hard to wrap your brain around, isn’t it? Such intimacy is beyond our understanding. Yet, its truth can not be diminished just because we can’t comprehend it. It just is.
We are not alone. We are not alone because He lives and breathes inside each of us and He promises to never leave us or forsake us. Never. That’s a long time. That’s forever, sweet friends.
You are not alone. No matter how high your mountain, you are not climbing it alone.
No matter how deep the pit you find yourself in, you are not in it alone.
No matter how lost, alone, afraid, unsure, or unaware you may feel, the truth is, you are NOT alone.
You are not unheard, not unseen, not unloved.
He has made His home within your very soul. It doesn’t get more intimate than that.
So today, my prayer for you (and for myself) is that you would walk with the knowledge that you are loved and not alone…confident that He is with you, walking with you, choosing you, delighting in you, cherishing you, leading and guiding you – intimately, faithfully, unreservedly.
The song I want to share with you is from Bryan and Katie Torwalt, entitled, “You Never Let Go.” Strong reminder when you need one. Who He is and our relationship with Him….so good.
With joy for the journey,
Sarah
