Feeling Alone in the Faith

Sometimes it feels like I am doing what God wants, but I am alone. Why isn't there any one encouraging me? It seems like it doesn't matter what I am doing, nothing changes and no one notices or shows up. Questions of "Does it really matters what I do?" come to mind.

Discouraging? You bet.

How am I supposed to be a light on a hill if there isn't anyone to see the light? What good is a witness to empty seats?

Paul talks about running the race, but at times I wonder if I'm actually running the right race, I mean where are the other runners? If I am alone, maybe I have made a bunch of stuff up and I'm on a little side track and I missed the main event.

Discouraging? You bet.

How many times have I pleaded with God for direction? How many times have I thought I had direction but nothing changed?

I have always wanted to know the truth and do not want to delude myself. In the book of Judges it says: "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17: 6). Micah had returned money he had stolen from his mom and to celebrate they made an idol, shrine, ephod, and made one of his sons a priest. Later he talks a wandering Levite to join him and be their priest. This is the danger we can find ourselves in, making up religion to fit what we think is OK, or changing what Scripture says to fit our desires. Micah thought he was turning toward God, but he was doing it his own way. He thinks God will bless him because he has everything set up just right. There is no going to God, or looking at Scripture, he decided what God would like.

Have you ever gotten a gift you didn't ask for or even want? A special day planned that you didn't want to do? I know my wife has had to suffer through some of my "thoughtful" gifts that really amounted to me thinking how clever I was in coming up with it without considering her desires. The focus was on what I thought she should like, not paying attention to what she really likes.

I don't want to do that with God. This is why it is so important to know that God's instructions do not change and that his Word is absolute and not merely a cultural history book (see sermon Culture Doesn't Define God). We must silhouette our lives against what God says. In biblical counseling it can be illustrated as:

The goal being that our footsteps and going our own ways need to be put off and we follow God's ways matching His footsteps. We need to go to Scripture.

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 2:3). We are not to live our lives as though we are Israelites without a king. We have been adopted into the inheritance as God's chosen people, and we do have a king.

What about the feeling of being alone? The feeling that maybe I'm doing something wrong? A Scripture that recently popped out to me was from a letter Paul wrote to the Philippians:

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Philippians 2: 12-13 ).

Even with no one watching and on our own we are to work to please God. Believers are not alone. "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid" (John 14: 26-27).