Alone and Feeling Rejected

“The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. [I was alone.] Everyone abandoned me. [I felt rejected.] May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me [took away my loneliness] and gave me strength [removed the rejection] so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death.” (2 Timothy‬ ‭4:16-17‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

The Apostle Paul during one of life’s major impacting events made note of being left alone. It’s recorded in the Bible.

He said during his first court appearance before a judge, no one came with him. Out of all the people he touched, mentored and brought hope, not one person came to the trial. When he needed support the most, he felt abandoned. This feeling of rejection can be the worst feeling ever. If the story ended there, it would have left us with normal results.

However in spite of how he felt, he did what wasn’t normal at all; Paul prayed that it not be counted against them. In essence he was saying I’m not going to count it against them and I don’t want God to count it against them either.

Paul shows us how to not let loneliness and rejection get the best of us. He made sure he didn’t allow it to be deposited into the baggage he carries with him. We should follow this uncommon example.