Letter to a Lonely Saint

I wrote this letter to a lonely brother. By God's grace, may it be an encouragement to you.

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Brother, my spirit empathizes with your thirst for that like-minded fellowship so often illusive on a local level. For the past two years my friendships have, for the most part, been carried on by phone and the internet. I have only one or two brothers nearby with whom I have very sweet fellowship, but even these visits are somewhat sporadic. With this in mind I am making plans, Lord willing, to relocate to where my dearest friend lives.

Every soldier of the cross needs dedicated crusaders marching beside him along the upward calling. Paul told Timothy to "follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." [2 Tim 2:22] Progress is especially hard for pilgrims whose companions keep halting to look back. Thomas Watson noted three things essential to growth in holiness: faith in Christ's sufficient blood, earnest prayer, and holy company.

In the midnight hours when you feel most disconsolate and solitary, make your way to the garden and find Christ weeping by Himself. There he is forsaken, a man acquainted with sorrows even unto death. He is not embarrassed that you have come, for His invitation stands, "tarry ye here, and watch with me." Do as He says, kneel beside the Savior and listen as He prays for all of His disciples,

"Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." [John 17]

Lonesome hours serve as gracious reminders of that forlorn night when Christ invited men to keep Him company. What did He want us to hear? The request of the Son in Gethsemane was that His saints should have everlasting communion with the Trinity. He who prays with perfect faith according to God's will receives all He asks. Out of that loneliest of times came the promise of an eternity when all believers shall be gathered and glorified in one.

May the Lord cause your name to enter my heart when I pray, that He will soon provide you with richer fellowship, as He wills.

Your friend and fellow wayfarer, Michael Spotts:.

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Please pray for this brother, and thank God that Christ prayed for you.

Very good post Brother. There are few here as well, and we seem opposed often even by Satan himself when we attempt to have sincere moments of fellowship out in the wilderness places.

The despair felt at times is difficult and confusing when other Christians are laughing and enjoying the rudiments of this world and your trials cast upon you create a greater wedge. I have often been reminded of the Lord of His own cup that he drank. Chapter 53 of Isaiah is a difficult passage to read, not just to the Jews, but to his saints as well.

We are to share in these afflictions with joy, knowing His very marks are upon us. Praise God he gives witness of that! If not for His Word, I know I would fail.

To thos as well that stand in the place of sorrow and isolation, know you are in good company and may we rest in the Saviour as we bid others to come and dine.

Kathleen

Thank you for your thoughts, Kathleen.

By the way, you said, "The despair felt at times is difficult and confusing when other Christians are laughing and enjoying the rudiments of this world and your trials cast upon you create a greater wedge."

I can identify very much with that.

The despair felt at times is difficult and confusing when other Christians are laughing and enjoying the rudiments of this world and your trials cast upon you create a greater wedge.

This precise thing has driven me to the deepest melancholy I have known. It is so hard to battle, and not covet what the others have.

The subtle question, "Lord, why not me?" Has come much more often than I'd like to admit, and yes I am aware that it is not right. Yet so often I am reminded of this passage-
Psalm 16:5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
Psalm 16:6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

Then for a moment, I settle and realize He is in control, He knows, and He is working all for His glory and my good.

He more than makes up for any earthly sorrow that we might experience.

This precise thing has driven me to the deepest melancholy I have known. It is so hard to battle, and not covet what the others have.

If you would but only praise Him, the loneliness will depart. Please, someone remind me of this when I am down!

Let us know when you're down!

Let us know when you're down!

:-)

It took many tearful walks in the snow and arguments with "thin air" for me to learn that praising the Lord releases us from many of the things that the enemy would put upon us.

Sister Heartsong,

Thank you for your words.

Pray that my clouds would part and that I may bask in the rays of His face.

arguments with "thin air"

Ohh how I can relate with this!!!!!

Hello roaringlamb,

Yes, His beautiful light. I will be praying for you my brother. Oh how He loves His children.

In the midnight hours when you feel most disconsolate and solitary, make your way to the garden and find Christ weeping by Himself. There he is forsaken, a man acquainted with sorrows even unto death. He is not embarrassed that you have come, for His invitation stands, "tarry ye here, and watch with me." Do as He says, kneel beside the Savior and listen as He prays for all of His disciples,

Thank you for this post, espiecally for those words.

Sometimes in this walk even when there are others around with whom there is fellowship it is still so vital to maintain that position, as loneliness is not always the amount of other people that we have closeness and "like-mindedness" with, sometimes it is just that sense of walking through a world that is contrary to all that we represent and missing our true home, which you so expressed so well:

Out of that loneliest of times came the promise of an eternity when all believers shall be gathered and glorified in one.

Sometimes, personally, being in a "wilderness" situation, together with my husband, I find myself not just longing for home for just myself, but for those I see that are sinking down, and their hands are just out of my reach... At that time it is so important to listen to those words Christ prayed for us all!

Right now, there is a kind of sorrow in my heart that I just can't "sing" away.
Perhaps sorrow's not a good word, it is like a sober, serious, concern. Although there are times that I see some person (many persons actually) and all I really want to do is break down and weep.

I am thankful, I am overwhelmed at the work of God, I am so thankful for every good and perfect gift I have had brought into my life; but, I can't shake this overwhelming sense that those of us who are the church have lacked that-

And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and [b]that the world may know that thou hast sent me[/b], and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."

I just want to be ready. I want to be ready to meet the Lord face to face; I want to be ready to grasp that hand that might be in some close realm of influence; I want to pray those close to me that are sinking down back into a place of conviction (Lord send the hounds of hell after them!); I want the people of God to realize the importance of their own lives in the midst of this time. So that perhaps, we would have a reflection of the glory of Christ for a world that doesn't have a chance.

I apologize for going on, and probably not sticking to content... but I appreciate your patience.

Blessings,
Lori

.when others seem to be going happily along in there walk and they see you travail with despair in the wilderness. they often, with good intentions try to dissect your life and see what you are "doing wrong". I have found many do not understand this season, and tend to stay away from you.

That is a lesson well learned by my husband and myself. I am not sure if everyone knows but we spend 20+ years on the road, living in vans, campers & old buses. We played music, for pay when we could get hired and for tips to survive the lean periods. Every few days would bring dramatic trials Some of which I may begin posting in a blog. They are stories of God's remarkable ways.) We were saved early in our trip but had not the means to stop what we did for a living. We prayed often to be able to live normal lives. God in his wonderful way showed us He had other things for us to do. Often all we could do was to move from one crisis to the next, trusting in Him. Everyone wanted to tell us what was 'wrong' with our lives. We knew things were out of our control and did our best to enjoy the ride. Praise Jesus.

I love this forum & pray for you all nightly,
white stone