Bob Tamasy
There’s a small minority of folks who are true “loners,” who prefer life totally apart from other people. But most of us, to one extent or another, need to be with people. Being alone can be a troubling, even fearful place.
That’s understandable, because from the start we were designed for relationships. “The Lord said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable helper for him’” (Genesis 2:18).
So, when times of aloneness come, regardless of their cause, we can feel desperately isolated. We might have thousands of “friends” on social media, but that’s not what genuine relationships are about. There’s nothing like someone nearby “with skin on.” What can we do at times like that, when no one’s around?
We might try repeating the mantra, “if it’s to be, it’s up to me,” but in most cases it’s better to be in tandem with someone else, whether it’s in marriage, parenting, playing sports, at work, traveling, or any other meaningful pursuit. As Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 reminds us, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!... A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
We’re tempted to venerate the central characters in the Bible, as if they were super men and women who could take on any challenge without flinching. But not a single one of them was a ‘lone ranger.’ They had their anxious, fearful moments just as we all have. Especially when they felt alone.
After 40 years of leading the often rebellious, stiff-necked Israelites around the wilderness, the time had come for Moses to step aside. He would be permitted to view the Promised Land from afar, but because of earlier disobedience was prohibited by God from actually entering it. Joshua had been chosen as his successor.
Can you imagine how Joshua must have felt, having to replace ‘the man, the myth, the legend’ who had always guided the people of Israel? After walking side by side with Moses for so many years, he would be alone. He might not have coined the phrase, but Joshua probably found himself often reciting, “It’s lonely at the top.”
Moses recognized this. Before passing the metaphorical baton, he told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their forefathers to give them…. The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8).
To reinforce this admonition, God later spoke to Joshua Himself: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them…. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:2-5).
Then, having assured Joshua of His constant presence, the Lord exhorted him several times to “be strong and courageous.” The third time He elaborated, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:6,7,9).
In our everyday walk of faith, there are times for all of us when we too must be “strong and courageous.” Whether it’s opposition from people who believe differently from us, circumstances testing our convictions and values, conflict with family members and friends, or warding off temptations, we’re called to be strong and courageous in standing up for what we know is right.
The good news is we’re not alone. As God promised Moses, then Joshua, and many others throughout the Scriptures, we have the assurance that “the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
This was one reason, moments before His ascension to heaven, Jesus told His disciples, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). After the confusion of His trial, His scourging and crucifixion, and then the euphoria of seeing Jesus resurrected from the dead, the disciples weren’t thrilled with the prospect of seeing Him leave them again. As God had promised the Old Testament patriarchs, Jesus was assuring His followers of being with them always, through His Spirit.
How else could they – and others who later would become stalwart followers of Christ and leaders of the early Church – have dealt with strong opposition, ridicule, beatings and stoning, and even death, unless the Lord had been with them, providing strength, comfort and hope in the midst of tribulation?
The apostle Paul acknowledged this in a very personal and honest letter to his protégé, Timothy: “At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me….” Can you imagine how alone and isolated he must have felt? However, Paul then added, “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it” (2 Timothy 4:16-17).
What does this have to say for us today? It should give us the assurance and confidence that no matter what circumstances we face, whatever trials and obstacles we might confront, the Lord is with us. We can take heart in the words repeated in Hebrews 13:5 and other places in the Bible, “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Even in our lowest, most feeling-alone moments, the Lord has promised that He is with us.
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Robert J. Tamasy is a veteran journalist, former newspaper editor, and magazine editor. Bob has written, co-authored and edited more than 20 books. These include ”Marketplace Ambassadors”; “Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace”; “Tufting Legacies,” “The Heart of Mentoring,” and “Pursuing Life With a Shepherd’s Heart.” He writes and edits a weekly business meditation, “Monday Manna,” which is translated into nearly 20 languages and distributed via email around the world by CBMC International. The address for Bob's blog is www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com. His email address is btamasy@comcast.net.