April 19: Sometimes the Only Way Forward is To Be Left Alone

"That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak."  (Gen 32:22-24)


Sometimes life can seem like a whirlwind. Bustles of activities, demands and responsibilities consume the hours of the day like Pacman eats up all the dots. Finding time alone can sometimes seem like a fight. Yet the fight of life can never be won if we spend all our time with people.  

Imagine Jacob with two contentious wives, eleven sons, several servants and possessions- an unsettled nomad moving back home after decades of absence. He wasn't marching joyfully and victoriously back home either, but was in almost debilitating fear of his brother Esau's wrath. There was much to attend to, but Jacob knew somehow, that if he didn't leave all the demands, separating himself to be alone with God, all he had would soon mean nothing. He desperately needed to make contact with God. He needed a change in his circumstances. His desperation drove him to be alone with God. He met God when he separated from all to seek His face. 

There are some things that can only be accomplished in your life when you are alone with God. Many great things you will never enjoy until you learn to spend time with Him in solitude. Paul's greatest legacies where his writings, most of which were written while he was confined alone in prison. Jesus began his ministry with forty days alone in the wilderness. Moses saw the burning bush and got his call while alone. Later he spent forty days alone on the mountain with God and his face shone with glory afterward. David developed intimacy and strength for his purpose while alone tending his Father's sheep.  There are many wonderful things that happen when you are in community with other believers but there is a depth in God and His purpose for your life that you will never reach until you have private, intimate moments with Him alone. You can never find yourself in the midst of the crowd. You find yourself alone with Him.

Sometimes the best thing that God can do for you is to allow issues in your life that will drive you to Him. Sometimes, He will allow everyone to abandon you. A lover may jilt you, parents may forsake you, friends, betray you. Children may leave home and never call enough. Sometimes, he will allow the rejection of people to break your unhealthy dependence on them and to lead you to His own ever accepting heart. Sometimes, you will be the one who will separate yourself deliberately from people like Jacob did in order to meet with God. 

He wants intimacy with you, but intimacy is never developed in the public view. It takes privacy. There are issues that you can never resolve in your life until God gets you alone and begins to work on them in the crucible of solitude.  Jesus said, "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matt 6:6).

Don't live the whole of your Christian life in the open. Let it not be that the worship and prayers people see you offering in the open are all there is to your devotional life. Let it not be that your bible is only opened when you are among other believers, but gathers dust when you are alone. Let it not be that the preacher's voice is all you hear, because there is no time of personal study and meditation with God.  There should be some secrets between God and you. Intimate people have secrets known only to them. Do you have secrets with God? Juicy things  He's shared with you meant only for your ears, or experiences and revelations unlawful to share.   

H.L Hastings said, "Souls often grow lonely in a crowd, and starve in the midst of temples, worshipers and ordinances. God would have us alone with Him sometimes. Coming to church is not coming to Christ. "Enter into thy closet, and,  shut thy door." Shut out nonsense, business, care and pleasure. Shut out flatteries and frowns. Shut out strangers and acquaintances. Shut out friends and foes. Shut out this world and open the window that looks out upon the next. Give the mind rest. Give the ear quiet. Give the tongue silence. Give the heart meditation. Give the soul communion with God; look up, there are blessings waiting for you. Listen: God speaks in His still small voice. Ask: God waits to hear. See that your soul is at peace with God. See that no shade of sin hides from your sight the Heavenly Father's face."

So in the midst of your hectic schedule, take time to be alone with God. Shut the world out and have holy times with Him. The greatest times of your life will be these moments, for in them you will dine with the divine and make your greatest spiritual progress. 


Decision of the Day

I understand that being alone with God is not optional. It is required. I desire to develop intimacy with God, so regularly, I will take a break from the demands of life. I will shut my doors, separate myself from all and fellowship with my God- my maker and lover.