Julia Melatis – Author

“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT)

Do you ever feel alone? Do you long for the presence of a person in your life to share your ups and downs? We do need people, but we should remember that if we have Jesus as our Savior, we are never truly alone. He is not only our Savior and Lord, but also our best friend. Yes, we need good friends and family in our lives to love, support, and celebrate life with us. No one is meant to go through this life alone. But, we must not forget to seek the Lord first in our lives and keep Christ in the center of all of our other relationships. He is the Third Strand in our triple-braided cord that gives us the strength to face life’s challenges.  

My husband and I moved half-way across the country for his job almost 3 years ago. We left our friends and our entire family behind – my parents, our sibling’s families, our kids, their spouses, and now our grandkids. Even though I knew it was completely a God thing that we made this move, I did freak out when we first got here. And I will admit that from time to time I still get a bit depressed and stressed. If I did not have that relationship with the Lord I would not be able to handle it. He fills the void in my life with His presence, the ministry He has given me, and He led me to a church full of people who reached out to me and became a surrogate family. But even when I am feeling alone or disconnected from my family, I have Jesus right there with me.

Connecting with God in an intimate relationship is so very important. That may sound strange if you have never experienced it, but it is possible and it is God’s intended purpose in creating us. Adam and Eve experienced that kind of intimate relationship with the Lord and walked with Him in the garden. It was the entrance of sin in their lives that separated them and us from that closeness with God. Jesus came into the world in human flesh to die in our place and rebuild that intimate connection between us and God the Father. When we receive Jesus as our Savior He gives us His Holy Spirit to live inside of us. He becomes our Teacher, Advocate, Guide, and Comforter. This gives us access to a personal relationship with the Lord we could not have otherwise.

Going back to our theme verse for today, Jesus’ presence is also in our relationships with other people to help us connect more deeply with each other. People can never completely fulfill our needs, but God can and does use the people in our lives as His hands, feet, heart, and mouth to enhance our lives and He uses us in the lives of others in the same way. But even if and when you feel alone, seek His presence first and foremost. You may think it’s not the same as a physical person near you, but you can feel His presence in your spirit. I have, at times, even experienced the feeling of the sensation of the Lord’s arm around my shoulders when I needed comfort or the joy of His presence dancing with me in worship. He makes His presence known when we seek Him with all our hearts (Jeremiah 29:13). We need the Lord’s presence for healing of our hearts and souls and to give us the strength to face trials and temptations. Seek the Lord first in all things (Psalm 27). He is our hope, strength, and ever-present help (Psalm 46).

Blessings,
Julia