Alone in a Room Full of People, May 27
Daily Reflections from Inside the Cancer Journey
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Written by Karen Tripp
“I am the only one left…” (1 Kings 19:10 NIV).
Have you ever felt alone in a room full of people? Most people I ask this question of say yes. This might be because the people around you are strangers—but too often, they are not. They could be friends and family. This loneliness can come from a realization that the people around you cannot seem to connect with important parts of your life.
Cancer patients and caregivers can experience this loneliness. The people around them might know that they have cancer and yet on that day, at that time, all interactions feel wrong. They either bring up cancer when you don’t want to talk about it, or they don’t bring up the cancer and you feel disregarded. It’s so easy for our minds to slip into “No one understands. I feel all alone,” even when God has sent loved ones to be with you. This can happen to people of great faith. Take Elijah.
Elijah was an Old Testament prophet the Lord used to do the GIANT “fire raining down from the sky” type of miracles. Yet Elijah went through a time of discouragement—even when God had sent him an assistant, an angel, and even let Elijah hear His voice! Elijah just kept telling God, “I am the only one left.” Elijah felt all alone.
What had happened to make Elijah feel so discouraged? People were trying to kill him, and Elijah was convinced he was the only man left who believed in God.
What Elijah didn’t know was that God had gone before him. God had not only prepared other people to support Elijah, but He had also prepared Elijah to reach out to these other people. To revive Elijah, the first thing God did was schedule a meeting with him. He had Elijah come to a mountain, where God came to him in a still small voice. Yet through all of this, Elijah kept saying, “I am the only one left.” I imagine God smiling down on Elijah and slowly shaking His head. If telling Elijah there were still 7000 believers was not enough to lift His isolation, God told him who to anoint as the next prophet, and where to find him. So Elijah anointed the prophet Elisha, who did not leave his side for the rest of Elijah’s days.
Just like Elijah, God has prepared others to help you on your cancer path, and God has prepared you to find them.
Push loneliness and discouragement away by doing these three things:
Listen for God’s still small voice.
Let others know what you need.
Look for the ways God has gone before you.
God has gone before you—so trust me, friend, you are not alone.
Pray: Lord, reveal to me the ways You have gone before me. Let me receive care from those You have placed in my path. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Your Turn: Try some stillness:
Close your eyes and relax.
Take three deep breaths.
In your mind or aloud say, “God, I am here,” followed by a deep breath.
Continue, repeating step three and listening as you experience being still in God’s presence.
Karen Tripp, MS, LMFT, Cancer Caregiver
Karen is the Executive Director of Cancer Companions, the premiere national Christian cancer ministry (https://www.cancercompanion.org). Her roles have included authoring several Christian books including God is Bigger Than Your Cancer and working as a licensed marriage and family therapist. She is a daughter of a colon cancer survivor. Karen uses her experience to teach how to step into another person’s struggle to help build their faith while strengthening your own.
Cancer Companion’s vision for the future is for every person impacted by cancer to know the hope, love, and grace of Jesus and that every oncology team has included faith in their treatment toolbox. By 2033, Cancer Companions will provide 5 million engagements through cancer prayers, scriptures and interactions to those impacted by cancer. Engagements include; social media outreach, e-newsletters, prayer team requests, 30 days of Cancer Prayer event, and volunteer connections.
To learn more about our ministry and the services we provide visit our website by clicking here.
