IWJT Throwback: "Feeling Alone? It’s your fault!"

Photo by Sarah Donaghy on Unsplash

Earlier this month (April 6) marked the 10-year mark of my father's passing. It is hard to believe it has been that long.

Interestingly he passed the Monday after Easter, and seeing as we just celebrated Easter, I thought it would be appropriate to post an “I Was Just Thinking…” Throwback.

Titled “Feeling Alone? It's Your Fault”, this article shows that even in our loneliest moments, God stays by our side and gives us strength. We are never alone. This article was originally written on October 31, 2007.

Note: I have made formatting and spelling edits as well as added photos and other links to previously written articles. All content and ideas have been preserved exactly as he originally wrote them.

I hope you enjoy.

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"Most of us at some time have felt completely alone. Those times often come at our weakest points, times of grief, disappointment, and failure. I have even experienced being alone in a large room full of hundreds of people.

I really hate the feeling of being alone. It can cause me to be depressed. I get focused on the wrong things and even begin to think the world is against me and everything I dream.

I have told the story many times about a Boy Scout experience when I was required to spend the night alone in the woods.

In order to be a part of this special scouting organization we were taken in a line into the woods at night with a sleeping bag and a pocket knife.

As we marched along the dirt road they would remove us from the line one at a time. When I felt the hand of the boy behind me leave my shoulder I began to feel alone.

Then when my turn came I was whisked off into what seemed to be the deepest, darkest part of the forest.

Then sounds of the night and the requirement of silence on our part made me feel as alone as I could ever have imagined. I was scared, alone and worried. I wondered if they would remember where they had left me!

Then the sun rose over the trees.

I looked around and less than 30 feet from me on every side were the other boys. Feeling silly and not wanting to let anyone know I was scared, I filled my lungs with a deep breath and was once again feeling safe and secure.

I realized that I had no reason to be scared. The leaders had promised me I would be alright and to trust them in this exercise of “Being Prepared."

Life has created for me many situations where I felt alone. Yet, every time I would realize I had nothing to fear. I was never alone!

As a boy I watched at every opportunity the old cartoon “Underdog”. If you were or are an Underdog fan you know that his signature statement is “There’s no need to fear, Underdog is here!”

The Bible teaches us that as God’s Children we have no need to fear, God is always near.

2 Timothy the fourth chapter, verses 17-18 states,

“But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever, Amen.”

When the apostle Paul wrote these words he knew from his personal trials that God would always be by his side and protect him in every situation.

If you are a follower of Christ you can face any situation knowing that God is by your side.

If you are alone it is because you are not depending on God’s presence and protection. Jesus even said he would never leave us or forsake us.

Let God guide and protect you in every part of your life and you will NEVER be alone!

Anyway, I was just thinking..."

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Rev. Dr. Billy Hutchinson (1956-2015)

Creator of I Was Just Thinking...