My most defining moment in life was when I had just left the secondary school. I had hoped I would gain admission into the university immediately. But admission was not forthcoming. Most of my classmates were already in the university. I felt alone. But the Lord taught me how to survive and maximize the season.
Friend, you need to learn how to survive and maximise the season of being alone (Matthew 14:23). If you don’t, you would give the devil an opportunity to truncate God’s plans and purpose for your life. God’s best or the devil’s worst can come out of the season that you are alone. It depends on who you yield to (2 Samuel 11:1-5). It depends on your sensitivity and wisdom at such season.
To survive being alone, you need to first realise that being alone is not a curse. It is actually supposed to be a blessing (Genesis 32:24). The fact that you are alone does not mean that something is wrong with you. It does not mean that God has gone on break in your life. Even if it seems that God is silent, it does not mean that He is absent (1 Kings 19:9-13).
The period of being alone is your greatest opportunity to cultivate intimacy with God (Mark 1:35). Most times, you cannot cultivate intimacy until you are alone. The encounters that folks had with God in the Bible were during their season of being alone. Jacob was left alone. David was alone in the desert (Psalm 63:1-5). John the Baptist was alone in the wilderness. Jesus was alone for 40 days and 40 nights.
When you are alone, remember your heritage (Psalm 137:1-6). Remember where you are coming from and what God has said concerning you. Don’t allow the devil to misinterpret and misrepresent God and your destiny to you. When Daniel and his friends were alone in Babylon, the power of their heritage brought stability to them (Daniel 1:8). They knew who and whose they were.
You can be alone and not be lonely. Loneliness is more of an emotional state. Aloneness is physical. When you are alone, the consciousness of God’s presence will help you not to slip into loneliness (Hebrews 13:5-6). God will also be faithful to position the right people close enough to you. You may not have the people you want. But God will give you the people you need (Psalm 46:1-11, 68:6).
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria