Have you ever felt like you had no one to whom you could turn? Do you recall a time in your life when you had no one on whom you could depend for support? Have you ever felt totally and completely alone? I think we have all felt some of these things at one time or another. I’m reminded of a time in my life when God used an “alone” circumstance to teach me that He was the one friend who would never leave me.
In the early nineties I accepted a job with a pharmaceutical company and was assigned a territory that included northern California, Oregon, and Washington. The job required that I travel approximately 80% of the time. I had never lived outside of Georgia, so all that was familiar to me was left behind as I moved to San Francisco, California. It became obvious to me very quickly that I was not up to all the change. New job, new city, new living space, no family, no friends, nothing familiar. I felt incredibly lost and alone. As I grew more and more unhappy in my decision to accept the job and move to San Francisco, I also became keenly aware that God was trying to teach me something in the midst of this difficult time.
Two verses speak to what God was teaching me through this time away from everything that was familiar and comfortable. The first is Proverbs 18:24 that says, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” The second is Hebrews 13:5b, “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”
As I spent time walking along the bay and talking to God about how unhappy I was in my new life, He reminded me that although I was thousands of miles away from home, family, and friends, He was with me. I had always relied heavily on those I loved to boost me up and support me, but at that point there was no one physically present to whom I could go. What I learned and will always remember is that God is ALWAYS with us. No matter where we live or how far away the familiar things are, HE is always there.
I was reminded that God was with Daniel in the lion’s den. He was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, He was with Jonah in the belly of fish and He was with me in San Francisco. In the days after I came to the realization that I had Him with me wherever I was and that He would never leave me, I began to trust Him to work out my circumstances. He is always faithful and He made a way for me to come back to Georgia and find a wonderful job that I enjoyed for many years.
Do you feel lonely? Do you ever feel like no one cares or understands? Have you felt like all your friends have abandoned you? Jesus is the friend who sticks closer than a brother. He will never leave you or forsake you. You might ask, ‘How do I know that Jesus is with me in every situation, even when those I love are not around?’ Read His promises, get to know Him through His Word, and talk to Him in prayer. As you spend time with the Lord, He will become more real to you and you will feel Him loving on you and taking care of you in every situation of your life. He wants to be your best friend!!
