By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo
1 Kings 19:3-4 "Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” - NIV
Elijah ran with his servant upto Beersheba. He left him there and went alone a day’s journey into the wilderness. As he sat under that tree and prayed to die, he was alone, tired, hungry and probably angry with life. If he had someone besides him, he would have got encouragement and not seek death. David was in a similar predicament when king saul sought after his life. But he managed partly because he had good company. None of us can manage life alone, however gifted or endowed. We always need others.
Being alone gives the devil good opportunity to sow all kinds of bad thoughts in our minds. Especially when exhausted and troubled, our minds are susceptible to hopelessness, doubt and despair from the devil. Jesus needed prayer and moral support in His toughest moment in Gethsemane. He asked the disciples to stand with Him. There is a time to be alone for meditation, but not when being alone will drive you further away from God and destroy your life.
Life loses meaning especially in loneliness and isolation. One of the key strategies of the enemy is to isolate and hit hard. God created us to belong to one another. No one stands or succeeds alone. We all need a shoulder to lean on in our toughest and lowest moments. Deliberately belong to a group, a fellowship of well meaning people. It lightens burdens and makes life worth living. The wise man had this very suitable counsel:
"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
Shalom children of God.