A Word to the Solitary.

To any dear child of God walking in solitariness, in comparative isolation, I would say a word. Do you not oftentimes feel this irksome? and do you not wish and sigh for something that would, you think, dispel the sadness you feel? Do you not sometimes feel it painful to have no one with whom you could converse about the things of God? and have you not at such times been gladdened by the presence of a friend, and found your load lightened by mere conversation, whether about the things of God or not? At such seasons, have you not felt as if you could not be happy alone with God; but that you wanted something besides Him to make you happy? I speak to you who have been brought into this path, partly through a desire to walk with the Lord, and partly, perhaps, because the Lord sees you need chastisement. Well, then, how do you behave under your discipline? You feel that the Lord is leading you through a wilderness: do you, as the Jews did, shut up to God, lust after the flesh-pots of Egypt again? Is the solitariness and isolation of the wilderness insupportable to you? Are you unhappy and discontented with having the Lord alone for your portion? (Num. 11:5, 65We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: 6But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes. (Numbers 11:5‑6)). If it be so, I would say, seek grace to bow down under the mighty hand of God. Be assured He has something to teach you. It may be to lead you a little deeper into the knowledge of your own heart, the wickedness and utter worthlessness of the flesh, the satanic character of the heart, which, having God for its portion, lusts after Egypt’s food. Perhaps you need to be taught new truth, or to have known truth deepened.
Bow before the Lord, seek to have your heart in sympathy with His discipline―He disciplines in love; the profit will be yours. In due time he will add to your happiness; just now it might absorb your thoughts, and close your heart against Him.