Running alone

Yesterday I took Jack to his favorite park. He has several dog friends there. They run and play with smiles and wagging tails, running in wide circles in games of chase. When we arrived Jack saw a group of dogs playing ahead. I didn’t ‘t recognize the dogs or their owners. Jack ran to join them but was quickly chased away. No harm done. Jack understood the dog language and carried on running past them, still smiling, tail still wagging. The other dog owners and I smiled and waved, too.

As Jack and I carried on, I watched as he streaked ahead. His shiny coat was glistening in the sunlight. Jack was having a wonderful time. I thought about being alone. While it can be a lonely path, it can also be liberating, especially in our spiritual worlds.

We can read many stories in God’s Word where His children were alone. At times if was hard, like when Elijah was running for his life from Jezabel, or when Daniel was thrown alone into a pit of lions, or when David alone faced Goliath. Even though the initial moments were fearful and difficult: they found a strength, a surge of courage and peace that carried them forward. It wasn’t their own strength conjured from within. It was the very strength of God pulsating throughout their thoughts, leading them on, alone, and yet having all they needed, for in Christ no one is ever a solitary figure.

We can’t forget Jesus when He died alone on the cross for the sins of the whole world. Even He, in the greatest of anguish called out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?!” It was agony like no one has suffered before or since; yet in those moments of unimaginable torment, Jesus found a strength from the promise of His Father that He would sit on the throne of Heaven, holding the place of highest honor for all eternity. We also have such a promise, to reside in Heaven, where tears nor sorrow will be experienced ever again.

Yesterday in the park, Jack wasn’t really alone. My eyes were on him, watching the situation, determining if my help was needed. It was not so he ran ahead with curly tail bouncing in his stride, tongue hanging out, ears pinned back in the wind. Alone but full of joy.

Bible teacher Leonard Ravenhill once said, “Great eagles fly alone; great lions hunt alone; great souls walk alone — alone with God.”

Jesus said in Matthew 28:20, “…Be sure of this, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” We may walk alone; yet in Christ, we are never unattended.