Tag: alone

Strength In Solitude

Dale Pollard

Sometimes we long for a moment alone, but there are other times we may not want to be alone but because of our circumstances we find ourselves by ourselves. 

We know that with God we’re never alone but scripture shows how our relationship with God can become more intimate in isolation. 

JESUS SPENT TIME BY HIMSELF AT LEAST SIX TIMES IN THE BIBLE AND HIS REASONS FOR SOLITUDE ARE VERY TELLING 

  1. To prepare for a major task (Luke 4:1-2, 14-15).
  2. To recharge after hard work (Mark 6:30-32).
  3. To work through grief (Matthew 14:1-13).
  4. Before making an important decision (Luke 6:12-13). Early in His ministry Jesus spent the whole night alone in prayer. The next day He chose his 12 disciples.
  5. In a time of distress (Luke 22:39-44). Hours before Jesus was arrested He went to the Mt. of Olives and went a short distance away from His disciples to pray. He was in great emotional agony knowing what he was about to face.
  6. To focus on prayer (Luke 5:16). Many times in Jesus’ ministry He spent time alone in prayer.

Jesus didn’t only retreat to be alone with God. He also taught his disciples to do the same (Mark 3.7, Mark 6.31-32, Luke 9.10). 

“Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” Mark explains, “For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves” – Mk. 6.31-32

Whether you’re pursuing a desolate place to be alone or you’re forced to be alone, in moderation it can be a productive and beneficial time of spiritual growth. 

David’s Prayer In the Cave (Psalm 142)

Thursday’s Column: Captain’s Blog

carl pic

Carl Pollard

It was in one of the lowest points in his life that David finds himself hiding in a cave praying to God. He says, “With my voice I cry out to the Lord; with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord” (Psa.‬ ‭142:1‬).

David describes the circumstances that have caused him to feel discouraged. He says in verse 4, “Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul.”

How often do we find ourselves feeling this same way? It could be the people we work with that don’t see the value of our Christianity. It could be friends at school pushing us to break our Christian values. It could even be our own families that don’t care for our souls.

David felt the loneliness of desertion with his own son, he felt betrayal from Saul, and he even willfully separated himself from God when he went after Bathsheba.

Many times we find ourselves in the cave. It could be that outside circumstances have put us there, or we sinned and are feeling the consequences of those choices.
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Put yourself in his shoes, hiding in a dark, desolate and damp cave feeling alone and deserted by everyone. Everyone except God. David never lost sight of God, and he knew that God would answer his prayer.

When we find ourselves in the dark, feeling deserted and alone, don’t lose sight of God. He will never turn His back on a struggling Christian. He cares for your soul.

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