Never Alone – Part 2

Before proceeding, read Never Alone – Part 1. Although loneliness is often a part of the human experience, God never leaves His child alone. We must distinguish the feeling of loneliness from the state of being alone, and refuse to submit to the I am alone mentality. The I am alone mentality insinuates that no one else is with us, can do what we do or is experiencing what we experience. For a moment, Elijah was overtaken by that spirit, and the Holy Spirit had to redirect Him with a still small voice. For, the communal nature of Christianity protects us from falling to the plight, pity and pride ensuing from the belief that God would leave us alone.

Recognizing we are never alone bring awareness of the Holy Spirit, and angels that keep our mind in peace. We are physical beings in a spiritual warfare (2 Corinthians 10:3; Ephesians 6:12)¹. Without heavenly assistance, we would be consumed by the enemy and his minions. But the promise Christ made to His disciples saying, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:18)¹, is applicable to us today. When Elijah fled because Jezebel made a threat for his life (1 Kings 19:2, 3)¹, he forgot that “the angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear [H]im, and delivereth them” (Psalm 34:7)¹. When under the impetus of fear, we act, we forfeit the equanimity that comes in claiming God’s promises. Fear, beclouds our ability to reason and remember and it thrust Elijah into a state of flight. Ergo, Elijah went from fear to flight to loneliness. The prophet who had just called fire from heaven (1 Kings 18:36-38)¹, wept, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life” (1 Kings 19:4)¹. Elijah’s suicidality is a danger sign of depression. Listen now to Matthew et al on loneliness: “those who are lonely are often depressed, partly because the same genes influence loneliness and depression” (2016)². This genetic linkage, however does not guarantee expression. While loneliness is a risk factor, we can inactivate those genes by the claiming the promises of God. That is the science of epigenetics. Belief in God’s word is a protective factor against the plight of loneliness and depression.

“those who are lonely are often depressed, partly because the same genes influence loneliness and depression” (2016)².

Blindness to the universality of the children of God’s sorrow drives one into the ditch of self-pity. Paul, who was, “in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons frequent, in deaths oft” (2 Corinthians 11:23)¹ asserts, “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able” (1 Corinthians 10:13)¹. We have heard this verse paraphrased as God will never give us more than we can bear. Yet, Elijah in his crucible laments, “It is enough” (1 Kings 19:4)¹. Elijah knew not his limit, but God knew Elijah could handle a death threat in His strength. The myopia of fear led Elijah to conclude that he was the only one whose life was in danger. While every trial is unique to a person, the experience of trials for the Christian is not. Again Paul posits, “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12)¹. While like Christ on the cross separated from the Father, we will feel alone. We must know that “[i]n th[e] thick darkness God’s presence [i]s hidden” (The Desire of Ages 753.4)³.

When a person is persuaded that he is the only one serving God, the seedling of pride pierces the surface of the soil. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah converses with Obadiah, who “when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD,…took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave and fed them with bread and water” (1 Kings 18:4)¹. Yet 18 verses later, Elijah claims, “I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD” (1 Kings 18:22)¹. Then, twice in the next chapter, Elijah laments, “I, even, I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:10, 14)¹. When a person believes he is alone, all his vision is focused on himself; his works — good or evil — are magnified. Quickly, Elijah forgot that not only was Obadiah rebelling against the apostasy of Ahab and Jezebel’s kingdom by preserving the LORD’S prophets, but there were at least 100 prophets of the LORD alive. If God can use Obadiah to keep 100 prophets from death, could he not do the same for one man? Since, Elijah convinced himself that he was alone, he did not accept that there were others who held fast God’s name. Thus, the prophet reverts to, “I have been very jealous for the LORD…” (1 Kings 19:4)¹, instead of recalling how God has delivered him in times past. The reality we believe is the one we see.

Believing we are alone, warps our perception of God. Elijah’s statements implicate that God would not preserve His truth and truth keepers. For if he died, Elijah imagined that not another prophet of God would remain. Would God leave the earth without a witness of Himself? Even when Israel was left desolate, the prophet Isaiah recognized that God, “had left unto [them] a very small remnant” (Isaiah 1:9)¹. God even prophesied, that in the midst of clerical misguidance, He would, “gather the remnant of [His] flock out of all countries whither [He] ha[d] driven them” (Jeremiah 23:3)¹. No wonder, when the Holy Spirit appeared to Elijah, the prophet is commanded to anoint his successor, Elisha (1 Kings 19:16)¹. God loves believers so much that He would not allow the enemy to extinguish them all. God loves unbelievers so much that He would not allow them to exist without a child of God to exhibit to truth to them. Thus, Elijah’s embrace of depressive loneliness challenges the love of God. It misrepresents His sovereignty: His ability to maintain a people on the earth who have put their faith in Him and lead unbelievers to do the same. Elijah’s perseveration in the I am alone mentality, made him blind to divine agencies, drove him into depression, and encouraged the spirit of pride. Let us never so contradict God’s character and principles.

Next, we will examine the significance of spiritual isolation in personal trial and Biblical interpretation.