Deuteronomy 31:6 | Isaiah 40:31 | Romans 8:31,37
You are never alone.
Do you feel alone? You may actually be. (Alone, that is.) It’s a hard way to be. Nobody to cling to when you have trouble. Nobody to listen when your thoughts turn dark. No wise counsel when your way isn’t working.
Wow–that was depressing! Now for some good news…
If you choose to trust God, you are never alone. He promised to never leave you or forsake you.
So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT
Technically, this promise was to the nation of Israel, who were preparing to cross the Jordan river and take their promised land from the very large, well-fed, and well-fortified inhabitants. They had backed down from the challenge years before, but now a new generation had grown up and it was time to face it again.
God gave them the promise because they were his people, now they just needed to trust him to keep his word. God would give them new strength to overcome their adversaries.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31 NLT
Is this you? Have you made a decision to trust God with your life, but still find yourself standing at the water’s edge, trying to get the courage up to cross over and conquer that new territory?
Maybe you’re already in the new territory and the water is behind you. And there you are, scared, feeling alone, and bracing for a crushing defeat.
But you are NOT alone. In fact, you have the most powerful ally in the Universe.
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Romans 8:31 NLT
To quote a certain movie character preacher, “I want you to hold on to God’s unchanging hand! ‘Cause He helped Joshua fight the Battle of Jericho. Yes! He helped Daniel get out of the lion’s den. He helped Gilligan get off the island. Lord!”
Okay…God did not help Gilligan get off the island. The movie was a comedy, and the actor’s portrayal was a caricature of charismatic preachers of the day. But the advice is still good. Even though you will face overwhelming hardships following Jesus, you will also experience what the Apostle Paul describes as overwhelming victory.
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
Romans 8:37 NLT
Face the truth: if you trust God, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. And if you have never trusted God by believing he sent Jesus to pay the way for your forgiveness, start your journey of faith here: https ://us-en.superbook.cbn.com/gospel_presentation?intcmp=evan1013, and have the assurance that you will never have to be alone again.
Questions for Group Discussion
- When do you feel alone?
- How can you be sure that God is with you? Do you have to be a follower of Jesus for this to be true?
- What can you do if you are a follower of Jesus and you still feel alone? How can you take courage from your faith?
Application: Be the Majority
Okay, so you’re not alone. How can you be sure? Wait…show me, don’t tell me!
Put on your Bob Ross wig and grab your paint supplies! It’s time to get artistic. You’re going to answer the question above (How can you be sure you’re not alone?) creatively.
First off, you don’t have to do an “alla prima” wet-on-wet painting like Ross did. In fact, it doesn’t have to be a painting at all. It could be a drawing, sculpture, video, or any sort of creative medium you like! Just please–if you choose graffiti, don’t deface any public or private property.
Secondly, you need to include the scriptural basis for your assurance. On the other hand, it doesn’t have to be written out. You could do an inspired visual representation of the scripture. After all–Art is about communicating feelings, thoughts, and concepts by representing them in meaningful ways. Get creative! But don’t leave out the scripture.
Finally, if you’re not actually sure you have God with you and are, therefore, not alone…talk to your pastor or someone you trust who follows Jesus. And pray, asking God to show you for sure.
