“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39
Most people are not familiar with the word “Monophobia” but practically all of us are most certainly acquainted with what it describes. Monophobia or the fear of being alone, is a catch-all term for several discrete fears. Some people are afraid of being apart from a particular person. Some have the fear of living alone or being in public alone. Still, others are afraid of being alone at home. Nervousness while alone is surprisingly common, but I’m told a full-blown phobia is relatively rare.
One fear that many, even people of faith struggle with, is the fear that God will leave them. The above passage from Romans 8 is one of the greatest passages in scripture I know of to help us address this monophobia (the fear that God will leave us.)
As I read these words from the writer of Romans 8, I smiled as I could hear in my memory my Mother singing words to address this monophobia in a version of an old gospel hymn that echoed the emphasis of the Apostle Paul’s words this way:
“I’ve seen the lightning flashing, And heard the thunder roll;
I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing, Trying to conquer my soul;
I’ve heard the voice of Jesus, Telling me still to fight on;
He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone.
No, never alone…No never alone,
He promised never to leave me. Never to leave me alone.”
Join us at worship this last Sunday of Pride Month for the last of the “Unshakeable Assurances” from “Romans 8:31-39.” My sermon is “God Will Not Leave Us.”
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