5 April | Youth
«There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the Lord said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’» 1 Kings 19:9
No one lives alone unless they are striving to achieve this goal. Loneliness is not something that simply happens, but a circumstance that we actively construct with our daily attitudes and choices. Although we are not responsible for certain painful experiences we face, we cannot think that we are going to get out of a dark pit pretending to be in a shopping mall’s food court, right? The first step towards change, therefore, is to recognize our own condition and the power we have in our hands, however small, to deal with what is happening.
Elijah was alone in a cave for several days, thinking that an entire nation had abandoned the faith. Daniel and his friends were among the few young Hebrews who did not give in to intense pressure to embrace the pagan faith and customs of the Babylonians. Jesus saw His closest friends sleep, run away, and lie when He most needed support and encouragement.
Loneliness is part of life, yes, but life is not limited to that. Many knees have not bowed before Baal. There were converts in Babylon, and thousands who were able to hear about the true and sovereign God. Jesus was not alone on the cross when he asked aloud why God had forsaken Him. Loneliness lasts a while, but it soon ends, unless, with our attitudes, we reject the people and situations that God uses to reach us, complete us, and make us grow.
It is not true that we are alone in this world or that we will die alone. The beloved disciple was at the foot of the cross next to Mary and other women, right? Christ was not abandoned and alone. Daniel had three faithful friends. Elijah found Elisha and made him his apprentice. All this happened when phone calls could not be made, it was difficult to travel, and social media did not exist. Ultimately, loneliness is an option. Sometimes it chooses you, it is true, but it does not last long. The problem is when you choose it.
Learn from Elijah, Daniel, and Jesus. Trust and act. Keep going. Keep your eyes wide open and see, after the disappointments, the deliverances, and miracles that God will perform. Do you accept this challenge? Think carefully. Maybe you have nothing to lose...