Never, Never Alone

Readings: Isaiah 62:6-12, Romans 6:19-23, Mark 8:1-9

I'm guessing it would be impossible to find one person on this planet that has never felt alone or deserted. 

It's not a good feeling.

When we find ourselves in that dismal place, it's a good time to start talking with God. We can use Isaiah 62:6-7 as an example of--more than likely in this case saints--who were praying without ceasing to God to end the time of waiting for the establishment of the Holy City. They prayed and prayed, according to the poet, "and gave him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth" (v.7). These saints--Moses, Amos, Habakkuk, Ezekiel, Elijah, Second Isaiah, and Daniel--had a very close relationship with God. They were certainly qualified for the job of "the watchmen on the walls". They established themselves in their positions and "gave God no rest" (v.7) from their prayers for Jerusalem.

Our darkest hours can find us on that wall as well. And it's okay. In these verses God allows us to realize that we are truly never, never alone. It's absolutely okay to pray and pray and pray to him in our pain, in our frustration, in our fear. By doing so, we lose all our inhibitions and we grow very close to our God. The barriers fall...our Father is there and listening.

In the book of Romans, Paul attempts to share the message that once 

we develop this deeper relation with our God where, when praying, we "give him no rest", we gain that "free gift of God--eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (6:23). And once we are there...we are never, never alone.


In the book of Mark, the familiar story of Christ taking care of human as well as spiritual needs is told. In the chronicle of Jesus feeding the four thousand with seven loaves of bread, Christ's compassion toward those following him shows us that if we pray without ceasing, if we die to sin in order to follow this sacred path, we too can provide compassion and care to others. His words show his sincere love of those around him: "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days, and have nothing to eat; and if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come a long way" (8:2-3). 


In our journey of this life, we will come upon those who are hungry, not only for food or drink, but for compassion and love. We can't send them away hungry, either--they could grow faint and lose all hope. In carrying out Paul's words of Christ's love, we emulate our perfect Savior and make sure those around us know they are indeed loved and will never, never be alone.


Peace be with you.