I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. — John 14:18

As we encounter life's challenges, there are moments when present feelings become so profound that they command our attention and belief. For example, a moment of rejection in a believer's life can cause us to feel isolated. Or a relational loss can cause feelings of grief, loss, or abandonment that make us feel all alone. And this eventually happens to all of us.

So at this moment in the text, Jesus knows that some of the moments they are about to encounter will lead to feelings of isolation, aloneness, abandonment, and confusion. Therefore, Jesus takes preemptive measures to give them a statement of divine truth to hold onto in these moments. He says, "I am going to leave for a bit, and there will be a moment you will feel like I left forever. So hang on to this promise now for then. I have not left you. I will be back." And Jesus hopes they will anchor their minds, hearts, and souls in this promise and recall it when this feeling of rejection and aloneness attempts to persuade them that he will not be faithful to his commitments and character.

In my lifetime, there have been countless moments when feelings of aloneness have swayed me to make some wrong conclusions about Jesus. And it's all because I failed to cling to this promise right here. He never leaves us. He never forsakes us. And we need to remember this promise. It is one of the oldest promises in the Bible handed down from one generation to the next (Genesis 28:15; Isaiah 41:10; Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5; Joshua 1:5; 1 Chronicles 28:20).

So the next time you feel isolated, don't let your feelings lie to you. These feelings do not change the unchanging nature of Jesus's relationship with us or the character of Jesus. As a reminder, here are three ways he is always with us. First, he left us with the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit, which abides in us forever (John 14:16-17). Second, he left us with the unchanging promises in the Word of God, which are not mere words on a page but a living spiritual book full of promises that speak against untrue feelings and redirect our hearts back to truth (John 1:1-3). Third, he left us with a fellowship of believers with whom we have a divine and immediate connection and with whom we are obligated to bear each other's burdens and mutually encourage each other when help is needed (Galatians 6:2, Colossians 3:14).

So, brother or sister, if you feel alone today and you are a believer, it just ain't true. You are not alone. And what I am proposing is not a rejection of reality. What I am proposing, or rather what Jesus is proposing, is to reject feelings that reject the only reality. You should reject false reality because you have the Spirit, the Scripture, and the body of Christ to lean on.

ASK THIS:

1. How have feelings of isolation or rejection affected my perception of Jesus and his presence in my life?
2. In what ways can I actively remind myself of Jesus' promise to never leave or forsake me, especially during challenging moments?

DO THIS: Reject feelings that reject Jesus's promises.

PRAY THIS: Dear Lord, I come before you today with a grateful heart, seeking your strength and guidance as I navigate life's challenges, and I humbly ask for the reassurance of your constant presence and unwavering love to overcome feelings of isolation and find comfort in your promises. Amen.

PLAY THIS: The Truth.