Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

I know two sisters who couldn’t be more opposite in personality type. One is an outgoing, super social extrovert and the other is a homebody who loves to stay home with a hot drink, a good book, and a cozy blanket. When each of them reached their junior year in high school, they participated in a week-long wilderness camp. Some aspects of it were tough on everyone, including these sisters. However, one task served to highlight their differences.

One morning the students were required to disburse throughout the woods, find a solitary spot, and spend 2 hours completely alone. They could take a journal but no cellphone or any other device. As I could’ve predicted, the introverted sister said that this was her favorite part of the whole week. She loved “forest bathing” in the deep woods with only the sounds of nature surrounding her. The extroverted sister? She thought she would go completely insane and could not wait for the torture to end. 

Depending on your personality type, being by yourself may sound like a positive or a negative. But even the most introverted of us doesn’t thrive completely on our own for long. We all need other people to help us with life, and we need Christian friends to strengthen our walk with Jesus. 

I hope you have good friends who help keep you focused on God and His word. If not, I hope that the Shine community gives you a connection with others who, though not local, are walking the same path as you are. 

Whatever your situation, please know that God is always with you. He will never leave you or forsake you. 

Follow the SHINE Time devotional tool to dive deeper into today’s scripture!

Seek the Lord in prayer.

Highlight a characteristic of God.

Identify a truth about yourself or people.

Notice what the Holy Spirit is communicating to you.

Engage in the next action step. Think of a way to respond in obedience to what God has revealed to you today.