Never Aloneಮಾದರಿ

The Right Tools for the Job

Have you ever been doing a construction project and felt the incredible feeling of having a full tool belt on your hip?

It’s a great feeling to start the job knowing that you have the right tools for what you need to do.

After this week's devotionals on loneliness, I have learned two things:

First, loneliness is not good, but it happens.

And second, I am not helpless in it but have the power to do something about it.

As we have looked at this week, God has given us some great “tools” to overcome loneliness. We just have to use them.

He has given us tools like:

·The Church.

·Spiritual gifts.

·Buddies and brothers.

·The ability to take responsibility for our words or actions.

·And the greatest of all: Himself.

And that’s not even an exhaustive list of all He has given us!

The lies of loneliness want to keep us down and isolated. The enemy tells us that we are the only one who suffers from this. That no one wants to hear about our situation. That no one cares about us.

But none of that is true.

In 1 Kings 19, the prophet “Elijah was afraid and ran for his life” (1 Kings 19:3). He had just defeated the prophets of Baal and had now lost all confidence and faith. Then he leaves his servant in Beersheba and walks into the wilderness by himself.

It’s there that the lies of loneliness began to speak.

“You are done, Elijah.”

“You can’t go on anymore.”

“There is no one else.”

“You are all alone.”

But what does God do with him?

Three things.

First, He gives Elijah the gift of His presence.

Second, He gives him the gift of a calling—to anoint Elisha.

And third, He gives him the gift of assurance—there are other believers out there.

In other words, God filled Elijah’s tool belt with what he needed for the work he would be doing, then gave him a task and gave him a new friend in Elisha.

Men, don’t give in to your loneliness. Don’t listen to the lies.

Instead, ask God what “tools” He has given you. Then go and use them well.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You that You are with me in my loneliness. Thank You for the gifts You have for me at this time. Help me to see them and use them well to connect with others. Amen.

Reflection: Make a list of gifts the Lord has given you in your loneliness. Use that list as a springboard for gratitude. Now take those gifts and go use them well!

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Thank you, gentlemen, for joining us for this week of teaching! For more devotionals, articles, podcasts, and other great content just for men, come visit our website at Impactus!