At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. (2 Timothy 4:16,17)
History has demonstrated repeatedly that even military leaders with great physical courage can struggle less successfully on the moral and ethical battlefield. One reason that makes moral/ethical decision making so hard is the aloneness factor. This occurs when those around you remove their support and leave you to stand alone. It’s not a fun place to be.
The apostle Paul felt this way in his defense of the gospel. He discovered, however, that he wasn’t alone after all. As he reports in his writing to Timothy, the Lord stood by his side. The aloneness Paul experienced is something we will all taste at one time or another. But we will never be truly alone. Perhaps you are facing a tough decision in your own life and are standing with little or no support from others.
Take heart. Maintain your stand. The Lord is standing with you. He is on your side.
