Two are Better than One

Luna Lovegood: [about her father] We believe you, by the way. That He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back, and you fought him, and the Ministry and the Prophet are conspiring against you and Dumbledore. 

Harry Potter: Thanks. Seems you're about the only ones that do.
Luna Lovegood: I don't think that's true. But I suppose that's how he wants you to feel.
Harry Potter: What do you mean?
Luna Lovegood: Well if I were You-Know-Who, I'd want you to feel cut off from everyone else. Because if it's just you alone you're not as much of a threat.

-Conversation between Luna Lovegood and Harry Potter from Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix

I was watching The Order of the Pheonix movie earlier and I saw this scene between Harry and Luna. For those who don't know, before this, the evil villain Voldemort had come back however, many in the wizarding community didn't want to believe he had returned. So in order to keep themselves in their happy bubbles, they began to discredit anyone who claimed You-Know-Who had returned. As a result, Harry, one of their prime targets, was being ostracized by many of his peers and ridiculed. This, of course, had him feeling like an outcast and he begins to doubt himself and his abilities.

While we don't live in a world with wizards and magic...although it would make cleaning the house easier if we did....and we don't have a dark wizard trying to take over the world, we do have our own evil villain who IS seeking to take over the world. And like Voldemort, Satan often uses discouragement and isolation as weapons to disable believers. Think about the simple truth that lies in what Luna was telling Harry:

If I were You-Know-Who, I'd want you to feel cut off from everyone else. Because if it's just you alone you're not as much of a threat.

When God created us He knew the challenges that we would all have to face in this fallen world and He knew that we wouldn't be able to face them all by ourselves. So He surrounded us with others who could help us fight the battles that we would face. People who could come alongside and provide encouragement. Others who have faced the same challenges that we are facing and can share their wisdom. That's why it is so vital that we as Christians go to church and fellowship with other believers.

See when we isolate ourselves from the family of believers, we are prime targets for Satan's lies. Without the protective barrier of our Christian family, we can begin to believe what Satan tells us.

"Oh, you really think that Christ can forgive you of that? Don't you realize that you've gone too far this time? He can never forgive you of that."
"They really don't like you at that place, they just tell you they do to make you come back and give your money each week. Really they all whisper about you behind your back."
"Why do you keep trying? You're never going to get it right, don't you see you mess up every time you try. What's the point?"
"If you try and live out your faith, no one will listen to you, they'll just laugh at you and think you're stupid. You're never going to make a difference, the world is too big, just give up already."
"No one else will understand you. If you tell them about the things you're struggling with they'll just think you're a bad person. You're all alone in this fight."

So often we let ourselves get isolated and we believe the lies that Satan tells us. My friends DON'T FALL FOR THIS TRAP!!! Think about it!

If I were Satan, I'd want you to feel cut off from everyone else. Because if it's just you alone you're not as much of a threat.

 Satan doesn't want us to live out our faith, he doesn't want us to connect with other believers, you know why? Because if we do he knows that we'll see that we aren't alone, that we can't go beyond the reach of Jesus' forgiveness, we can make a difference, and that there are other believers out there who are facing the same exact things we're going through. When we unite with our brothers and sisters in Christ we become a force to be reckoned with.

"It’s better to have a partner than go it alone.

Share the work, share the wealth.

And if one falls down, the other helps,

But if there’s no one to help, tough!

11 Two in a bed warm each other.

Alone, you shiver all night.

12 By yourself you’re unprotected.

With a friend you can face the worst.

Can you round up a third?

A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped."

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (MSG)

Final Thoughts:

If you're going through a period where you feel alone and you feel discouraged, I encourage you to look into your local church. I'm going to warn you, there will be moments where you feel like staying home and sleeping in rather than getting up and going to church, but take it as a sign that you really should be going. Check out Sunday School classes and try to get plugged into a good group where you can find people you connect with, people who can help you stay focused on God's teaching. Go to lunch with a friend, have a coffee or a shopping date. Whatever you can do to get out of your box. Don't get me wrong there are times when being alone is good, it gives you a chance to take a mental break from everything. However, it is VERY easy to become isolated, even if it's unintentional...trust me I KNOW!!! Sometimes I have to force myself to go and do something because I am really bad about isolating myself. 

So take stock of what's been going on recently, ask yourself if you've allowed yourself to become isolated. If you have don't worry! It happens to everyone! But figure out ways to un-isolate (is that a word?) yourself. It may be hard at first, but the more you do it, the more you seek out other believers the easier it will become. 

Now there may be some who aren't isolated but know someone who has allowed themselves to become isolated. If you know someone who has, take a moment and reach out to them. Sometimes a simple invitation from a friend is all it takes to break through the walls. A kind word or a simple text to say hello works wonders! And if they don't respond immediately don't give up! Keep trying! Pray for them and keep in contact. I've been on both ends and I know that even though it may not seem like you're accomplishing much it can mean a lot just knowing that there is someone out there who cares. 

Like with Luna and Harry, they weren't the best of friends...yet....but her kind words really helped Harry when he needed it. They provided the right amount of encouragement at just the right moment. 

Can you be someone's Luna? Don't be afraid, your kind words may be exactly what someone needs to hear today. 

Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

1 Peter 5:8-11 (MSG)

  By yourself you’re unprotected. 

With a friend, you can face the worst.

Ecclesiastes 4:12a (MSG)

God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we’re alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 (MSG)