Not Alone

At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed. (2 Timothy 4:16–17, NIV 1984).

Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, O king.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire. (Daniel 3:24–26, NIV 1984).

Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:7–8, NIV 1984).

My Musings – “I have men at my back, and you stand alone and defy me?” “I am not alone,” replied Noah. The movie Noah, starring Russell Crowe, was very loosely based on the Bible, but I did like this one exchange. Do you think you stand alone? Think again.

My Advice – You may not face a fiery furnace, or enemies in a land you are called to conquer or go before a magistrate to defend your faith. But whatever you face, you will not face it alone. “Be strong and courageous. The Lord [will stand by your] side and [give you] strength. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

“You’ll Never Walk Alone”

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark

At the end of a storm
There’s a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark

Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone

You’ll never walk alone

Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone

You’ll never walk alone

— Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers