The Lord Stood With Me…

The Lord Stood With Me…

When our lives go sideways everyone leaves us. When things are going good people flock to us like we are handing out $100 bills. Probably because we were – at least in the metaphorical sense. It is when our lives take a turn, for whatever reason, that people turn their backs on us. Either their faith is shallow and will not allow them to stand strong or their faith was merely a mirage to begin with. Either way, we are not alone. We are not necessarily lonely, we just find ourselves to be without the comfort of having friends and family nearby.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. ~ II Timothy 4:3-5 NKJB

While we may find ourselves without the comfort of friends and family, our community may have abandoned us, we will always have the presence of the Lord. The Lord does not leave us, under any circumstance. We could find ourselves in prison, much like Paul, in the last days of our time in this world and still live our lives in the presence of the Lord, preaching the Word. We are only alone by choice. We are never alone by the will of God. His will is to be with us. We can share our thoughts, our dreams and the events of the day, each step, each breath with the Lord and He will be present, listening and patient with us.

We desire to be with others as that is how God made us. God made us to be in community with others. God made us to be in community with Him. God looked at Adam and said that Adam should not be without a helper like himself.

And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” ~ Genesis 2:18 NKJB

Paul was feeling the weight of his last days in this world and who wouldn’t. From what we all have seen in our lives, the last few days, the last few hours and the last few minutes the weight of our departure appears to be rather heavy. It is the comfort of the Lord that takes away the weight.

Paul is writing to Timothy to come to him and bring comfort. Timothy is the only person to which Paul can summon on short notice. Be diligent to come to me quickly; (II Timothy 4:9) Paul writes from his prison cell. Paul’s time draws near. Some of the others in Paul’s life have abandoned him, abandoned their faith and are no longer walking with the Lord. The Lord, Our God through Jesus Christ, did not abandoned Paul.

But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! ~ II Timothy 4:17-18 NKJB

Most of us have experienced this type of situation. Not at our death bed, but at times in our lives when everyone has turned their back on us or simply walked away for a variety of reasons. We are not alone in those moments. Our faith is our rock. Our belief in the Lord is our salvation from loneliness. The Lord of Heaven is always with us. It may not seem that way, but it is true. Jesus Christ is with you right now, if you call upon His Holy name.

Either the Scripture is the divine Word of God teaching us how to live and how to be a reflection of God, or it’s nothing more than a historical account of events.

This was inspired by Pastor Ryan Hill, Metro Baptist Church