This past January, I found myself driving down a mountain after a day of playing in the snow in the high country. The snow had fallen steadily throughout the day, and now, in the dark of night, I was making my way to Groveland alone. As I descended, I realized I was out of cell phone range and began to understand the potential danger I was in. If I slid off the road, I would be alone in my truck with no way to contact anyone for help. The hour-plus ride down from the high country in thick, heavy snow was daunting, and I must admit, I felt very alone and fearful at times. However, when I finally arrived home, below the snow levels and into the rain, I was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. The refuge of my home brought immense relief. Once I greeted my wife and embraced her with thankfulness, settling into the warmth of a burning fire in the fireplace, I felt the comfort of God’s grace in bringing me home safely.

I believe many of us can recall times when we have felt so alone, reaching a place in our faith where we feel separated from God’s love. Reflecting on this, I think of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Looking down the hill, He saw the High Priest and his men approaching to arrest Him. Jesus was about to let the humanity of His eternal love be put into action. First came the arrest, then the trial where the High Priest falsely accused Him, and finally, the same crowd that praised Him as He entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday would call for His crucifixion. His death on the cross, followed by His resurrection, was a willing sacrifice for the sins of the world, once and for all. Before these events, He spent time in prayer, preparing for the agony ahead. “Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’” (Mark 14:35-36/NIV). Jesus returned three times to His disciples, Peter, James, and John, hoping to find them in prayer, but each time, He found them asleep. “Returning the third time, he said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.’” (Mark 14:41/NIV).

In these moments, Jesus was alone and facing immense uncertainty. If this does not convince us that the Son of the Living God understands what it means to be alone, then we are ignoring the humanity of our Lord. Jesus is willing to seek us out, no matter how alone or separated we feel from God. This is a reminder, directly from the living, breathing word of God, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: we are not alone. The world can be a lonely place, and friends we consider close can sometimes leave us feeling isolated. When people hurt us because they do not take the time to understand, we might feel abandoned. But the simple fact remains: we are not alone. Jesus understands and is always with us.

If you want to know more about the boundless love of our Lord, I invite you to join one of the Groveland Christian Churches on any given Sunday. At Gateway Community Church, we worship every Sunday at 10:00 am, and I would love to have you join us.

In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Bob Kandels