The Solitary

Walking the path alone

I was encouraged today to write about a very different aspect of the fellow warrior concept, one I should perhaps have spent some time on as I began this journey. The encouragement was perfectly correct, and I will attempt to do justice to sharing this reality.

Many times, I have found myself facing an issue alone. I felt that I had no help, no guidance, and no support. I struggled through conflicts, challenges, or any of a million issues that most of us go through, relying solely on my own strength. Whether I succeeded or failed, I dealt with it alone. What a point of pride when I succeeded—I conquered the challenge, succeeded against the odds, and got the glory. What misery when I failed—I wasn't man enough to overcome the obstacle, I didn't have what it took, and I felt like a failure.

The truth is, I was never really alone. David, when he wrote the Psalms, would occasionally begin with a tone of despair, as in Psalm 13: "Lord, how long will You forget me? Forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long will I store up anxious concerns within me, agony in my mind every day? How long will my enemy dominate me?"

That tone of hopelessness is one I have certainly felt before. However, David does not stop there. He cries out to the Lord in his feeling of solitude and ends with a completely different tone: "But I have trusted in Your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance. I will sing to the Lord because He has treated me generously."

The Gift of the Holy Spirit

As I get real with myself while dealing with my struggles in victory or in defeat, I must acknowledge that God was with me through it all. I was not in solitude. I was not abandoned. I was never truly alone. Through Christ and His sacrifice, we who give our lives to Him and acknowledge Him as Lord are afforded the presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus makes a point of this with His disciples in the book of John. We see in John 14 the promise in verses 15 through 18:

"If you love Me, you will keep My commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you."

He repeats this promise of the Counselor in chapters 15 and 16. The word used for Counselor in the original Greek means "One called to walk beside." He provides the Spirit to walk with us, however dark, alone, or isolated we may feel. Jesus was foretelling His death in John 16 but reassures the men that, despite their sorrow, it was better that He left so the Counselor could come.

The times I failed to recognize that I am not alone through a trial or struggle are embarrassing. I neglected to recognize the most important presence in my life, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that Jesus went to such great lengths to provide for me. I must remember the ending of David's song. I should always be singing to the Lord because He has treated me so generously.

This indwelling leaves evidence. Galatians 5:22-23 speaks to the evidence of the Spirit in us and highlights love as the foremost. This is referred to as the fruits of the Spirit. It starts with love. It is the essential foundation for all our interactions. The way Christ defined the greatest love requires a profound strength. His definition in John 15:13 says, "No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends." He showed that for us and took it even further. Romans 5:10 refers to us before our salvation as enemies of God. Jesus didn't just die for His friends. He died for His enemies.

The Holy Spirit is an indescribably significant gift given to every believer. Acts 2:38 states, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” This is no small blessing; God Himself comes to live within us. The One who spoke the universe into existence lives inside of those who call Him Lord.

Seeking Guidance

Another pivotal role of the Holy Spirit is to provide direction. Romans 8:14 states, “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” When faced with uncertainty or conflict, seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance can illuminate the best path forward. This divine insight can be transformative for us. He can guide us to those we should be serving, to those we should be serving with, and to those who can help us in our walk with Christ.

As you consider how to be a fellow warrior, invite the Holy Spirit into your interactions. Seek His guidance as you look for discipleship, a fellowship of believers, and a place to serve out the mission we've been given. Above all, KNOW that He is with you. The struggles and trials you are facing today, whether it's sin, family strife, health issues, addiction, hopelessness, or anything else the world throws at you, are not yours to fight alone. He's got your back.