You are Known and Not Alone

There have been many times in my life, even in recent years, that I’ve had to literally speak to myself and dispel foreign voices that want to make me feel inferior or less than. 

There have been voices trying to convince me that I am weird because I don’t move in certain circles with a lot of people around me.

Foreign voices have tried to infiltrate my mind telling me that I am emotionally disturbed. I’ve even been called crazy.

Many women especially, and I am beginning to understand more and more, as I go through these experiences this platform that God has given me, many women constantly face this battle.

Those of you who are new to this ministry may not know, but I’ve said it openly, that I survived 13 years of domestic violence. I also grew up in a home where I was abused, not neglected at all, because I didn’t want for anything material, but I experienced serious abuse. That may sound contradictory but yeah - the story of my past.

We know that there are several types of abuse - physical, emotional, sexual, financial, verbal. And anyone going through any form of abuse should seek help and not subject themselves to this inhumane treatment.  Abuse is wrong and should not be tolerated.

I’ve said that to say that I grew up for the most part being a victim and feeling alone, not lonely, because there’s a difference.

Loneliness is a subjective feeling of isolation or lack of companionship. So while I am absolutely ok with not having many people constantly around me, someone else might find it real hard to be by themselves and must always have people around. 

Nothing wrong with both scenarios. But some people may want to convince introverts that they are lonely and alone.

Today Family, I want to encourage somebody, as I’ve had to encourage myself, that being alone can be a very good thing. That physical solitude, that alone time that many people run away from like they’re hiding from their thoughts, is a time that we all should welcome as a time to spend quality time with our God. Amen?!

While we may not have people around us all the time, and maybe I’m just speaking to a minority here, I want to tell you that you are known by God, you are not alone, and you can find comfort in the divine presence of Jesus Christ.

Let me repeat that: You are known, you are not alone and you can find comfort in God’s divine presence. Hallelujah.

So away with the foreign voices and let us go to the Voice of the Lord as found in the scriptures: Psalm 139 verses 1-16 and I read from The Message version. 

"God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand.
I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking.
You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight.
You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too—
your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful—I can’t take it all in!

Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight?
If I climb to the sky, you’re there!
If I go underground, you’re there! 

If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon,
You’d find me in a minute—you’re already there waiting!
Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
At night I’m immersed in the light!”
It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you;
night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day."

This is such a fantastic narrative that should help us to erase those foreign voices that want to tell us that we are alone and or lonely. This should bring us all the reassurance and comfort we need that once we have Jesus in our lives, we are never alone, never lonely.

Family, these verses from Psalm 139 beautifully affirm that our God knows us intimately and is involved in every aspect of our lives. 

So how are we lonely or alone if Jesus is with us?

Let’s look at this other scripture, as we further consider how privileged we are that the Creator of the universe knows us, cares for us, loves us and is always there for us.

Isaiah 43:1-4 ”But now, God’s Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob, the One who got you started, Israel: “Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end— Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you: all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! That’s how much you mean to me! That’s how much I love you! I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you.“

I am known and not alone.

You are known and not alone.

So whenever those voices come, in the form of your own thoughts or someone trying to psychoanalyse you, run to the scriptures and be reassured.

When life becomes difficult, when you begin to feel depressed, remember the promises of our God who  assures us that we are not alone, even in the midst of challenges. 

Family, God’s presence is our anchor, providing strength and protection as we face the challenges of life.

He says in Matthew 28:20 reading from The Passion Translation version of The Bible ”…never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.”“

So yes, we may find ourselves in situations where we feel isolated, lonely or alone, even in a crowd. But we have been reminded today of this wonderful promise made to the disciples by Jesus before ascending to heaven: He is always with us. 

My brother, my sister…No matter what we are going through, Jesus is there holding our hands. 

Zephaniah 3:17 Amplified version reminds us that ”The Lord our God is in our midst, A Warrior who saves. He will rejoice over us with joy; He will be quiet in His love [making no mention of our past sins], He will rejoice over us with shouts of joy.“

So we can rejoice today Family. Come out of the doldrums. Cheer up.

We can thank God for this reassurance that we are known and never alone, not matter how we may feel at times or what people say. 

We belong to Jesus, we are known by the Creator of the universe who calls us His own, who knows us by name, and who loves us unconditionally.

May we be strengthened in our faith and encouraged to share this comforting truth with others as we go about our daily lives.

aub - 5 March 2024

www.zjoyvi.com