Ephesians 4:30 — And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Have you experienced moments of feeling totally alone? I remember my first few days of bootcamp in the Army felt this way. I injured my ankle on the second day (somebody stepped on it as we were running inside the barracks) and it swelled up to the size of a softball. The actual bootcamp hadn’t even started and I was hurt. This had the potential of delaying the start of my training. 

I remember hobbling to the doctor’s office to be examined and treated. As I walked, I felt a keen sense of loneliness. I didn’t know anybody, and I was facing fear and uncertainty. Do you know what I did in that moment that I hadn’t done in a while to that point? I prayed. There was something in me that knew that while I felt alone, I was not truly alone. 

Our passage today reminds us of this truth. We are never alone. If we are in Christ, the Holy Spirit is with us. We are indwelled with the Spirit of God who mediates the presence of Jesus to us. Paul writes to the church of Ephesus to not “grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” We’ve been sealed for the day of redemption. How? By the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 

He is always with you. You are never alone. You can cry out to Him today to be your Helper. That is His role to you as a Christian. He can comfort you and remind you of the promises of God. Do not despair when you feel alone. Do not lose hope when it seems nobody is there to confide in. The Holy Spirit of God is with you, and you can call upon Him in your time of need. Pour out your heart before God. His presence will comfort you.

Reflection & Journal:

- What are some experiences in your life of feeling totally alone?

- How has God helped you to sense His presence in your life when you have felt alone?

- What role does the Holy Spirit play in helping us through loneliness?

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