Seattle, WA, Portland, OR, and San Fransisco, CA, all tie for first place in the USA with the highest population of people claiming to be un-affiliated with any sort of religion or spirituality. 37% of these cities population are strictly non-religious, and only 15% claim to be active Christians. Chattanooga, TN lays at the other end of the spectrum as it is the city in the USA with 52.9% of it's population claiming to be active Christians.
"If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people will come from another place, but you and your father's family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this." - Esther 4:14
Whether you live in the "bible belt" or the Pacific North West, you are going to have times when you will stand alone in your faith. I live in a small liberal town in Washington State. Where I have grown up, about 1/30 of my friends go to church. I was often the only kid who couldn't have playdates Sunday mornings and early afternoons, and I carried that bitterness with me wondering why I couldn't be more like the other kids.
If we turn to scripture we will find countless of verses, passages, and even books filled with godly men and women writing honestly about their struggles to stand alone in their faith- whether through persecution or just from the sheer shame of standing alone. I can't say that I have truly gained full understanding of what it means for me to stand alone with Christ, but when I look at scripture there is a message just screaming to be shared.
"If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people will come from another place, but you and your father's family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this." - Esther 4:14
A couple of months ago I did a bible study to the book of Esther through a devotional called Journeys of Faithfulness by Sarah Clarkson. I highly recommend this devotional and won't do justice explaining the message I got from it, never the less, I will try. Esther was alone. She was thrust into a time and place and she was used for "a time such as this". Maybe, God is using you in your area of life where you're standing alone for a purpose of His kingdom. What is God was trying to use you in whatever place in life you are in currently to build His kingdom and to give Himself glory.
"In view of this, we always pray for you that our God will make you worthy of his calling, and by his power fulfill your every desire to do good and your work produced by faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." - 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
God is using this time, this feeling of standing alone for His purpose. I desire to bring glory and honor to His name, and if that means I have to stand alone and have that awkward moment with someone in exchange for letting God work His purpose in my life, I will joyfully choose to stand alone sometimes.
"Resist him [satan], firm in the faith knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world." - 1 Peter 5:9
Satan uses the feeling of loneliness as his greatest weapon to stray us from our faith. We don't want to be different or to choose the right thing sometimes, because it's hard. It is hard to say no to the temptation that making a different choice would be easier. When I feel that I am alone in my faith because there aren't a lot of other Christians near me, I think to those from Jesus' time and even those today who are persecuted for speaking about the love of Christ. They are jailed, beaten, and disgraced all because they're not allowed to the truth and life of Our Savior Jesus Christ.
A mentor of mine suggested that I have a prayer target anytime I feel alone or tempted to not choose Jesus. She encouraged me to pray for those who are persecuted. To pray for the ones who are rooted deeply enough in Christ to stand up for their beliefs even when they are tested beyond measure I can't even begin to comprehend. When you humble yourself to realize there are people struggling right now in their faith as well, it helps me to take comfort in the one thing we all share in common with that struggle: we aren't strong enough, but God is.
"Resist him [satan], firm in the faith knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world." - 1 Peter 5:9
Satan uses the feeling of loneliness as his greatest weapon to stray us from our faith. We don't want to be different or to choose the right thing sometimes, because it's hard. It is hard to say no to the temptation that making a different choice would be easier. When I feel that I am alone in my faith because there aren't a lot of other Christians near me, I think to those from Jesus' time and even those today who are persecuted for speaking about the love of Christ. They are jailed, beaten, and disgraced all because they're not allowed to the truth and life of Our Savior Jesus Christ.
A mentor of mine suggested that I have a prayer target anytime I feel alone or tempted to not choose Jesus. She encouraged me to pray for those who are persecuted. To pray for the ones who are rooted deeply enough in Christ to stand up for their beliefs even when they are tested beyond measure I can't even begin to comprehend. When you humble yourself to realize there are people struggling right now in their faith as well, it helps me to take comfort in the one thing we all share in common with that struggle: we aren't strong enough, but God is.
I prayed long and hard for mentors and fellow Christians I could have in my life to encourage me and to share my faith joineries with. It's still a constant prayer of mine, but God has brought some wonderful people into my life to stand by my side and encourage me in my relationship with Christ. New doors have been opened for me and I've seen everyday how giving God control over my life brings so many new opportunities and really challenged me to always seek my relationship with the Lord above all else.
My prayer for anyone reading this right now, is that you would learn to stand alone. Even when it's hard, even when it's awkward, even when it seems like a sacrifice. For God is using you for a purpose and to help Him build His kingdom, and if we give Him the ability to that doors will be opened for us in ways we never possibly dreamed. Stand firm in your faith and stand firm in your values.
Read 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17.
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