“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to [God] must believe that [God] exists and that [God] rewards those who earnestly seek [God]” (Heb 11:6, NIV).

Recently, I had the privilege of walking the Chartres labyrinth privately after hours with eight other people, each of us carrying our own joys and sorrows, memories of successes and failures, and burdens of sicknesses, loss, fears, and unfulfilled longings. In the dimly lit, otherwise empty, grand cathedral in France, we moved silently along the winding path. We were walking together, but each of us was also very much walking alone, deep in his or her own thoughts, memories, pain, and prayers. Which is why we came.

From the cradle to the grave, our dependence on one another is one of the hallmarks of human existence, and each of us is nurtured and supported by precious relationships throughout our lives. We share a common identity as fellow human beings, and Christians are knit together into what Paul called “the body of Christ.” Yet, at the same time, there is an inescapable, individual component to human existence and the Christian faith, which must be recognized, appreciated, and cultivated.

Some in the Western world have taken this idea too far, celebrating their personal identity, private relationship with Jesus, and individual accomplishment without adequately appreciating their interdependence within the whole of creation. At the same time, others need to do more to cultivate their individuality, especially when it comes to seeking God and learning how to lean on the Holy Spirit amid their particular challenges and struggles in their own daily lives.

In Hebrews 11, the author draws attention to this critical, individual dimension of the spiritual life by holding up the example of the ancient heroes of the faith, who remained steadfast in their devotion to God despite great hardships, persecution, and suffering. Like them, he says, we, too, must seek God earnestly and believe that doing so is well worth the effort (11:6), no matter what we might have to endure along the way.

For some of you, life has become a painful, disturbing journey filled with uncertainty and fear. You may be isolated from loved ones and may feel alone or even abandoned by God. Some of you feel so much stress that you’ve stopped reading your Bible or find it hard to pray. I can only imagine how hard it must be for you at times. Some of you have never had to face such problems or felt this hopeless before.

Yet, seeking God earnestly for yourself is critical to your spiritual well-being as well to your ability to cope with whatever heavy burdens you may be carrying. While God may be silent or seem unresponsive to your prayers at times, earnestness means continuing to pursue God anyway, believing that there is no better place to look for what you most need and desire, or for what God most wants for you.

Though your loneliness might feel crushing and almost unbearable at times, taking time to be alone with God will not make you feel more alone. In fact, it’s just the opposite. The more you earnestly seek God as the well-spring for your life, the more you will find the peace, strength, and confidence you are craving. And you will discover brothers and sisters who are traversing parallel solitary journeys, earnestly seeking God just as you are. Among them, you will find the best possible companions for whatever lies ahead.

We finished our solitary walks on the Chartres labyrinth by gathering in a circle. Though our walks had been deeply personal, we now sang the same song and joined together for a final group prayer experience. Solitariness morphed into solidarity. Individuality yielded more consciously to community. Each of us now felt better prepared to go back out into the night, fortified by our precious individual time with God, and grateful for the brothers and sisters who would be going forward with us.

Even when we feel so alone, we are not. We are alone with God, and we are alone… together.

With the love of Jesus,
Dr. Tim