If you asked someone in India what their favorite sport is, most likely that person would answer, cricket! Similar to baseball, cricket is a bat and ball game played between two teams. Teams score by hitting the ball and running to a wooden post called a wicket and then running back to the starting point.

With cricket and baseball, batters stand and face a pitcher (called a bowler in cricket) and an entire team of players in the field. The goal of the opposing team is to get the player out before scoring. The batter can easily feel like everyone is against him as he stands all alone ready to bat.

Have you ever had a time when you felt all alone and everyone seemed against you? Maybe when you are at school or church and you got left out of a conversation, sat alone at lunch or at church or when everyone laughed at you for something you said or did. Maybe that has not happened to you, but I bet you have seen it happen to someone. 

 Jesus often found himself feeling alone with many against him. The religious leaders were always questioning Jesus and trying to discount what he said. Once Jesus had to escape for his life as people were throwing stones at him attempting to kill him. Before his death, Peter, one of his disciples, denied that he even knew Jesus.  On the cross, Jesus hung alone, dying. 

But God never wants you to feel alone. He gave Moses some powerful words to tell his people before they entered the Promise Land. Moses told them, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”      Deuteronomy 31:6. 

When you face something hard, when you feel alone or afraid, remember the verse in Deuteronomy. God goes with you and He will never leave or forsake you.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for sending Jesus to live on this earth. He understands what it feels like to be alone. He knows what it feels like to not be included. Thank you for your promise that you will go with me wherever I go and you will never leave or forsake me.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.