Memertine Prison

When I Feel Alone….

Memertine Prison
2 Timothy 4:16-17

16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 

When Paul penned his final letter to his spiritual son, he was in prison awaiting the disposition of Emperor Nero. We know that soon this great preacher to the Gentiles would give his life in service to his Lord. Toward the end of this letter, he is describing his trial when he writes that “no man stood with me, but all men forsook me”. After years of preaching the Gospel, of impacting lives with the truths of Christ, of being surrounded by friends and supporters – in the end, he is alone.

If you could visit the Mamertine Prison, where it is believed he was kept, you would find a dark dungeon – the picture of isolation and loneliness. It was during this time, in this setting, that Paul reveals his source of encouragement that kept the loneliness from setting in. He says that even when all had left him, the Lord was there. Through the presence of Christ, he found encouragement, strength, and hope for deliverance.

Even in his darkest hours, Paul knew that he had not been completely forsaken. The same Jesus that had come to him on the road to Damascus was the same Jesus that was there with him in the prison cell. The Lord stood with Him – speaking to the nearness of his presence (Psalm 139:7-12). The Lord strengthen him – helping him to be content even in these moments of isolation (Phil 4:13). The Lord gave him hope – the assurance that He was still working and would use even this for Paul’s good, and God’s Glory (Romans 8:28).

Christian, do you feel isolated and alone? Do those four walls seem to be closing? Does it seem that all have forsaken you? Remember the ever-abiding presence of your Savior. Christ promises that He “will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”(Heb 13:5). Rather than give in to loneliness, turn to the One who will strengthen, encourage, and give you hope.

As we ReFocus our hearts and minds on Christ, let us remember the constantly abiding hope we have in Him. Even in the loneliest of times, the light of His love can pierce through the darkness and revive our hearts. And when you stand encouraged in the Lord, reach out to others and share that hope, so that they too may experience the presence of Christ.