Isolated

John Donne once wrote,

“No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent; a part of the main...” (Meditation XVII/ Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions)

The phrase above has been taken to mean that none of us does well outside of community and that isolation hinders our ability as individuals to thrive. It is true that most people desire to belong and to connect with other people ~ we do long for community. It is often when things are not right with us that we pull back and unplug from people and community and it is often said of such people in those moments that more than ever they NEED to be plugged in.

Can I say that sometimes the only way to hear the “still, small voice of God” is in isolation?

Can I say that sometimes those living around us, life in general and the storms of life in particular can actually deafen us to what God wants us to know or to hear from Him in that moment?

In the case of the prophet Elijah, as he was fleeing from the anger of Jezebel (1 Kings 19) it was the despair and discouragement that his efforts to purify his people from their pagan worship of the Baals was ineffective which drove him deeper into the wilderness of depression:

“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”” (1 Kings 19:4)

God sent angels to strengthen the prophet who journeyed for 40 days further into isolation and it was in that place that he poured out his heart before the Lord. His complaint was “I am alone in the work and I have failed.” (1 Kings 19:9-10)

It was also there that Lord met the discouraged prophet:

“Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”” (1 Kings 19:11–13)

In isolation, the prophet learned that God speaks in great and small ways, that Elijah was, in fact NOT alone and that God was still with him (see v. 14-18).

In isolation, without the distractions of life in community (even though we are surrounded by people who cant seem to see us), sometimes – not all the time, but sometimes, God can get through to us in ways not otherwise possible.

As I write, this is where I am today – in isolation.

I’m in church but I feel invisible. Thinking that it was something about me that was causing the people around me at work to avoid me, I switched to another location where no one knows me and STILL I’m being avoided. On top of all of this, I recently left (at the Lord’s leading) the church I had pastored for the last 17 years and frankly thought I’d be serving until my death – journeying with every decision further into my own wilderness. It was just a few days ago however, while in prayer that the Lord made it clear to me that these things were not coincidental but deliberate on His part – God wants to work on me right now and He knows that other than the vent He has allowed by way of this website, He would not have my undivided attention if He allowed things to continue as they were.

Does He have your undivided attention?

God called King David “a man after my own heart” (Acts 13:22). The all knowing God, the One who KNEW that David would fail Him greatly still saw the son of Jesse as a man who would pursue, obey, and submit to His will. But David had to go through a period of isolation as well; his isolation and the cry of his heart in that season is pictured in Psalm 51:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.” (Psalm 51:10–13)

Sometimes, we do without until we seek what matters.

As I wrap it up, consider what the Lord Jesus said in (Matthew 6:33):

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

The other things which would come after you and I put first things first vary. In the passage from which the above verse comes, the Lord was referring to food and clothing; but I’d like to suggest that once we seek “the kingdom of God and His righteousness” things like peace, joy, hope, contentment, usefulness to God and fruitfulness in His service will also be added to us who have read the words of (Psalm 37:4) many times:

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.”