We have gradually abandoned the sacred practice of coming before God alone and sitting quietly at His feet. Instead of delighting in His presence, we have become preoccupied with presenting our petitions, neglecting the deeper call to listen. We have lost the discipline of allowing God to speak—giving Him space to unfold His Word, reveal its context, illuminate its meaning, and apply it to our lives today. This loss has been largely shaped by entrenched patterns of religious routine.
Though God continually calls us to hear His voice, we have grown accustomed to the noise of the world—a noise that increasingly disturbs and overwhelms our spiritual life. As a result, His voice is only limited to the Scripture without resonating within our hearts. What, then, must we change? What response does God seek from us?
Remembering the Creation
Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Genesis 2:7 (NIV)
When we look at God’s creation, we see abundance everywhere. Yet when He created man, He made one man and gave him one companion—a single woman. The prophet Malachi explained this when he said, “was God lacking in Spirit that He gave one man only one woman, while creating other creatures in great numbers?”
Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.
Malachi 2:15 (NIV)
Through prophet Malachi, God revealed His purpose—to establish one family through whom righteous offspring would be raised. When people later corrupted themselves, God preserved just one family—the family of Noah—to restore righteousness on the earth. When they too failed to fulfill His purpose, God called Abraham, setting him apart as a pioneer of faith and obedience, and making him the father of many, as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.
God’s People Are No Longer Minorities
Through the prophet Isaiah, God reminds us of this enduring truth: He has the power to multiply many righteous people from just one. Therefore, His people are not to rely on numbers or majority, but to place their trust wholly in Him.
look to Abraham, your father,
and to Sarah, who gave you birth.
When I called him he was only one man,
and I blessed him and made him many.
Isaiah 51:2 (NIV)
Despite God’s encouraging words and the gift of Jesus sent to save us, we still doubt His true power to work through individuals, as He is always with the person He calls. Yet, many are fearful of standing alone, often choosing to demonstrate their support in front of others by organizing large gatherings. This need for solidarity is also evident in the weekly attendance at church on Sundays out of fear of missing out on the latest happenings in our community.
After Elijah executed the four hundred prophets of Baal, fear took over. Terrified that Queen Jezebel would retaliate and kill him, and convinced he was the very last prophet loyal to the true God, he fled. However, God reassured him that he wasn’t alone – thousands of others had remained faithful and refused to worship Baal.
Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.
1 Kings 19:18 (NIV)
God’s people are no longer considered minorities, as God has forgiven the sins of everyone on Earth through the atonement of His Son. Therefore, from God’s perspective, acceptance is not based on religion, but rather on His unconditional love. It is now our responsibility to share this good news: that all are indeed forgiven and can be seen as children of God.
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:2 (NIV)
Therefore, it is not solely about the numerical count of individuals who identify as Christians, but rather about worshipping the true and living God in spirit and in truth, regardless of one’s religious identity (John 4:24).
Meeting God In Gatherings
In this fallen world, God personally calls each of us by name, yet we often overlook that sacred invitation. Instead of meeting Him alone, we rush to approach Him in fellowship. However, God’s pattern is clear: He invites us into solitude before gathering us together. This was exemplified by Jesus when He taught His disciples how to pray.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:6 (NIV)
Sadly, we frequently present ourselves differently in church gatherings compared to social settings. As a result, God invites us to approach Him individually, allowing Him to mould our lives into a consistent testimony that remains the same, regardless of whether we are in the presence of others or known only to Him.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)
As Jesus extends His invitation to everyone, many respond alongside others who feel weary and burdened. However, if we reflect more deeply on His call, we recognize that it is frequently presented in large gatherings—such as conventions, blessing services, and healing meetings—where preachers often quote this verse as a collective appeal. Unfortunately, we tend to interpret it as a mass invitation, allowing ourselves to approach Jesus merely as part of a crowd, responding to an altar call in hopes of receiving blessings to fulfill our needs or desires.
However, the true purpose of Jesus’ call becomes evident in the latter part of His invitation—to take up His yoke and learn from Him. This emphasizes a deeply personal, one-on-one relationship of learning. Yet, many individuals are satisfied with sharing His yoke with others, neglecting to create space for personal guidance from Him. In doing so, we mislead ourselves into believing we are sincere learners, while, in reality, we achieve very little.
In today’s world, we often worry about how “God-fearing” people perceive us, feeling the need to showcase our righteousness to others. While there is value in identifying ourselves as children of God, it is far more crucial that we maintain our integrity when no one is observing us. True integrity is cultivated in those quiet moments.
We have often misinterpreted integrity as the ability to please everyone, when in reality, it is about doing what is right, even when no one is watching and no recognition is given. In losing sight of this, we have also overlooked the sacred discipline of spending time alone with God. Instead, we are frequently directed to approach Him in the company of others—transitioning from family altars to church altars—yet we are seldom taught or encouraged to seek Him personally, in moments of quiet and solitude.
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1 (KJV)
This same attitude extends to our service to God. Recognizing this weakness, Jesus initially sent His disciples out in pairs. Similarly, Moses expressed his fear of serving alone, and although God was displeased, He allowed Aaron to accompany him as his spokesman. Even today, when we dedicate our lives to God’s service, we often seek the support of an organization, influenced by persuasive and emotional appeals to commit ourselves to ministry. In this process, what should be a deeply personal commitment between us and God is frequently overshadowed.
Yet the reason many have become children of God is the obedience of one man—the second Adam. Through this proven truth, Jesus sends each of us individually to proclaim the unconditional love of our Father and the forgiveness already granted to all who live on this earth.
They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
John 17:16-18 (NIV)
A Journey Without Co-passengers
As mortal beings, death is inevitable for all of us. Those who do not understand God’s work of redemption tend to see physical death as the end of life. But for the children of God, death is not an end—it is a passage, a bridge that leads into immortality.
Though we take great comfort in knowing we are not alone in our faithfulness to our Father God, it remains crucial for each of us to seek Him personally, to be still in His presence, and to develop a deeper intimacy with Him as the sovereign God. Ultimately, at the end of our spiritual journeys, even with the assurance of salvation secured by the Holy Spirit, each of us must cross the bridge alone—yet we are not truly alone, for we are accompanied by the One who can present us blameless before God, transforming the salvation graciously given to us into eternal life.
If we have learned to know God through deep, personal communion—spending time with Him in solitude—we will be able to face that moment with the same confidence and assurance expressed by the Psalmist.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4 (KJV)
The Jordan Valley 
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