God Is With You

“But my enemies say nothing but evil about me. “How soon will he die and be forgotten?” they ask. They visit me as if they were my friends, but all the while they gather gossip, and when they leave, they spread it everywhere. All who hate me whisper about me, imagining the worst. “He has some fatal disease,” they say. “He will never get out of that bed!” Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭41:5-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Do you ever feel like everyone around you is somehow conspiring against you. This perception can happen to anyone. Circumstances become difficult, a person or two betrays you, and your heart begins to feel the pain of desertion.  David wasn't the only one to feel this way. This condition is called the Elijah syndrome. 
In 1 Kings 19:1-18 we are told that Elijah felt all alone in the culture in which he lived. The people of Israel had broken covenant with God, torn down His altars, and killed His prophets. Elijah thought he was the only one left who loved God and obeyed His commands.  In 2 Timothy 4, Paul felt alone as he lay in a dark prison in Rome, awaiting his execution.  Demas had forsaken him because of worldly allurement. Alexander the coppersmith has done him much harm and fought against everything he said. In verses 16-18 he says this: “The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:16-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Throughout history, true children of God have had to experience abandonment, betrayal, persecution, and even martyrdom. We are not alone in our struggle against sin. The culture we now live in is warped and unhinged. The truth of the gospel stands in clear contrast to the flow of the society, yet it must be proclaimed, regardless of the price.  God is with those who are His children. He will complete His work in us and take us up to glory when He has finished His work in us.  “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Stand true child of God! Don't relent. Stay the course! God is with you!  “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:20‬ ‭NLT‬‬