Scared And Alone

During this time of social distancing the thought occurs to me that some people have lived with social distancing for a long time. They go through life both scared and alone. They have no one to talk to about their fears. They endure day after day isolated from others.

Like wild stallions still running free,  fears stampede the mind. One fear can turn into two then three and so on. Fear usually grows out of the soil of anxiety. We worry. We dwell on those worries long enough and they become fears. Soon those fears can overwhelm. The fears eclipse hope and any measure of faith. Moods, thoughts, and attitudes grow dark. In these shadows Satan lurks. Twisting, deceiving, obscuring truth and hope.

Fears also grow when we lose control. When our carefully crafted live meant to avoid pain still leads to pain. When we cannot control the outcome. When circumstances beyond our resources to fix hold fast. When you know you cannot change things. You feel helpless and afraid. That is when evil forces start planting toxic thoughts in the mind. Poisonous thoughts planted like a farmer planting his crop. Only the fruit from these toxic thoughts will only bring a destructive harvest if not taken captive in obedience to Christ.

To live in fear is hard enough. To have to do it alone is far worse. Worst case scenarios play out in the mind and there is no one to talk you off the ledge. Nobody seems to care. Everybody is busy with their own lives, wrapped up in their own struggles. It is easy to slip through the cracks. To be neglected. Forsaken by those you once thought you could depend on for counsel and help.

The phone never rings. The texts do not come. The mailbox is cluttered with junk mail and bills. There are no cards. No letters. No emails.

I heard a tragic story of a lady who lived in fear and felt alone yesterday. The circumstances are not important. One night she got in her car. She drove onto some train tracks and parked. She sat there scared and alone until a train eventually came ending her life. What a tragedy.

For the longest time I did not understand how a person could get to that place where they felt the only option was to end their life. I understand now. When a person hurts so long, feels tormented psychologically and lose all hope that it will ever get better ending it all seems preferrable to the pain of life. . Even if that person is a Christian, and they have prayed for help, but the desired help did not come, At least not in the form they wanted or in the time frame they wanted, death looks like the only way to find relief. As someone wisely stated, suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

In contrast to all that, I point to one scripture.

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
¹⁰  fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

The first seven words of that verse ought to bring comfort and hope for those scared and alone. Don't fear because God is with you. Just like a parent comforts a child on a stormy night God is with in whatever you are facing. You are no alone. Not only is He with you, but He also never sleeps. I like to say God works the night shift.

If He is with you and awake, you do not need to be dismayed. To give into hopelessness. He is your God. He is your sovereign and supreme ruler. Day by day, even minute by minute He strengthens you to keep going, to keep plodding ahead. He is also your helper. I do not know why He delays for you. I don't have answers to all your why questions. I just know He promised to be your helper. To come to your aid. He will also hold you up. When you can't manage the energy to get up and stand God supports you.

To all the scared and lonely. You need not fear for you are not alone. Your God is bigger than whatever you face. Don't give up on Him yet. Hang onto that truth in these troubling times.