Topic: 2 Timothy 4:6-18
From a prison cell, Paul wrote to his spiritual son Timothy. The apostle had been arrested for preaching the gospel. Now, he was alone as he prepared to stand before the Roman tribunal that would decide which charges should be brought. He was a spiritual father to so many. Yet even very close friends had deserted him. He must have felt alone and disappointed.
When someone feels lonely, he's probably experiencing isolation from those he loves. This sense of disconnection is especially troubling when the person is experiencing a difficult situation. But Paul's discouragement was short-lived. In 2 Timothy 4:17, he says, "The Lord stood with me and strengthened me." As believers, we understand the Lord is always with us. But when we face an isolating circumstance, we truly experience His intimacy. God made His presence known to Paul so he no longer felt alone.
A sudden awareness of God wouldn't have surprised Paul. And in fact, he was probably anticipating the Lord. In some of the most trying and lonely times of the apostle's life, God had been there. For example, Paul feared for his life in Corinth and also faced drowning at sea (Acts 18:6-10; 27:22-25). As he recalled God's faithfulness to him in those difficult times, Paul was confident the Lord would surely be with him again.
We can depend upon the same promise as Paul. Hebrews 13:5 says, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you." The Lord is always with us. He will make His presence known in our lonely hours so we can have courage for whatever lies ahead.
Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation
at 9:24 AM CDT