"Don't Isolate--Insolate"

 

“Don’t Isolate—Insolate”

 

Most mornings Karen and I have our devotional time in our living room. We give each other space and quiet as we ponder Scripture and pray. But we reserve the right to speak up if a thought comes to mind which we want to share. A couple of days ago Karen got off the couch, went into our bedroom and closed the door, which was unusual. She came out a few minutes later and asked if she could read something God had just given her. Here’s what she said:

“If you’re like me, when there is a severe circumstance and especially physical pain in my life, I have found that I tend to isolate and keep to myself. I ask for prayer but tend to turn inside myself and at times even had difficulty staying in close fellowship with the Lord. Those times when I should turn to Him the most, I have found it hard to focus on anything except my pain.

“God put a thought in my head this morning as I was talking to Him: ‘Don’t isolate; insolate.’ I looked up the meaning of the word insolate and it’s this; ‘To expose by the sun’s rays; treat by exposure to the sun’s rays.’ I changed the word ‘sun’ to ‘Son’—Jesus. In those times of self-imposed isolation, I need to expose myself to the Son’s rays; treat myself to the Son’s rays. Jesus’ love, warmth, comfort and tender care for me—those are the healing rays of the Son, my Savior.

“I also need to remember that the rays of the sun are also exposed to those around me: my Christian brothers and sisters who can pray for me, minister to me and encourage me. Be with me when I feel so alone.

“Don’t isolate; insolate.”

God created us with the need not only of connection with Him (“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.”—Genesis 28:15) but with other people (“It is not good that {people} should be alone….”—Genesis 2:18, NKJV; “Let us not give up meeting together….”—Hebrews 10:25). God’s prophet Elijah isolated himself after God showed His power over the false god Baal on Mount Carmel by fleeing for his life. God met him through an angel and assured him that He hadn’t abandoned him and there were 7000 fellow Israelites who hadn’t succumbed to idolatry (1 Kings 18-19). And in that assurance he completed the work God had given him to do.

Remember the Son’s rays never stop shining on us to give us encouragement, guidance and hope. So don’t isolate—insolate.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Karen and Jim McMillan