Never Alone

Think about the relationships you have. Some are closely connected while some may just be acquaintances. Other relationships may be strained or no longer exist. What makes one relationship better than another? I would say the biggest factor is time. Time spent nurturing that relationship. As we spend time with someone, we grow closer to them as we begin to connect, confide, trust, and even depend on that person. The less time we spend connecting with someone, the less connected we feel and that relationship begins to falter.

The same is true of our relationship with God. The more time we spend with Him, the closer we feel to Him. If we fail to make time to connect with him, then we feel less connected to him.

There have been times in my life that I constantly felt God’s presence, but unfortunately there have also been times that I couldn’t feel His presence at all. I recognize now that during those times I wasn’t praying or reading my Bible. I wasn’t connecting. It’s difficult for me to feel His presence when I’m not regularly meeting with Him in prayer and reading His word. There have also been times that I had unconfessed sin standing in the way. It’s difficult to connect when we have done wrong and haven’t asked for His forgiveness.

However, during those times, I know He was still there with me because scripture assures me of that. I just couldn’t feel Him because of the circumstances. It’s important to remember that what we feel is an emotion, not reality. There are many promises in the Bible that assure us of God’s constant presence.

Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.” When it feels as if everyone has abandoned you, and no one understands or cares what you are going through, God promises that He is the One who will walk through that time with you. He will never abandon you!

When it feels as if the situation you are going through is just more than you can handle, He will be right there protecting you. Isaiah 43:2-3 says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and the rivers will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flame will not burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior.”

And when it feels as if your whole world is crumbling, His love will not fail! Isaiah 54:10 says, “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”

David, who faced many difficulties in his life, wrote in Psalms 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” David had learned over time that God was with him through it all. Even in the scariest moments of your life whether it’s a dreaded diagnosis, a horrible accident, loss of a job, or death of a loved one, He will be there through it all!

Romans 8:38-39 says “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Earthly relationships will fail at times, but because of Christ’s sacrifice, nothing can ever separate us from the love of God. Regardless of what we go through, we will never lose our relationship with Him.

Whatever you are feeling today, whatever you are going through, remember that you are never alone! He is always there, even in the difficult times when you may not feel Him. Don’t trust your feelings. Trust in Him!