When Alone is Hard

             My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (I John 2:1-2)

 

            Christianity is built on the foundation of Jesus’s atoning sacrifice for our sins. We couldn’t gain freedom from our sin on our own. By ourselves, we are forever trapped in sin. But as this passage clarifies, we are not abandoned, not left alone to stand before God in our shame. Jesus acts as our Lawyer, and while it’s not mentioned here, elsewhere, we are told that the Holy Spirit is our Counsellor and Teacher.

          I don’t know whether this is a universal, an introvert thing, or just me, but I don’t tend to think of having others around as freeing. When I’m around others, I’m on display. I’m at work. It might not quite be “me against the world,” but a part of me tends to think alone is free. It’s hard to disappoint someone if there’s no one around to disappoint. It’s also harder to be kicked to the curb if there’s no one around to kick. I don’t mean this to sound bitter. I’m just saying that normally, having others around doesn’t produce a feeling of freedom.

          But this passage says that Jesus is our Advocate, meaning He steps up beside us. The Holy Spirit is called the Paraclete. He steps up beside us. There is safety. They are trustworthy. There is freedom from being alone when being alone is hard.