By Michael Fehlauer
I didn’t like it growing up, and I don’t like it now! I’m talking about discipline. Discipline is never fun and nearly impossible to understand its benefit when you are in the middle of it. The same is true with the discipline of God. If we don’t understand certain aspects of God’s discipline, an attitude of bitterness and anger will define our lives. Here is one that I personally struggled with and found difficult to accept – isolation
When we sin against others, our relationships change. At the very least they become strained, at worst they are permanently broken. Even if restored, there is a dynamic of those relationships that is never the same. As a result of sin’s impact on those around us, isolation is an immediate consequence.
After leading a large congregation, the sense of isolation was especially difficult for me. The phone calls quickly stopped. Emails and text messages ceased. I went from having a constant stream of interaction with people I loved, to sudden silence.
At this point it’s easy to feel rejected and marginalized – cast off from the community of believers like a type of leper. It appeared that the time I needed people the most, I was abandoned. Yet, after time I realized that this was part of the process. The isolation was God’s plan to ultimately work out His purpose for my life.
In the Bible King David was driven from Jerusalem by his son, Absalom. David had sinned allowing Absalom to lead a revolt against his father. David is fleeing to the wilderness of the desert, leaving behind all he knows. Yet, it was in this place of isolation that David said, “If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to Him.”
In times like this, isolation is God’s plan in drawing us back to Himself, back to a greater place of dependence. It is in the place of isolation that we can once again settle the reality of our identity in Christ, and not in the affirmation of others.
mike , i have always been taught that isolation is of thedevil. the only thing God said that was not good was that man was alone . i am confused?
Wow, I never thought about that! That is really good! Thanks for sharing!
Wellllll, I for one tried to contact you. I did get your cell phone number from somebody and called you. I am a VERY persistant Brit. Even drove past your house here trying to see if you were around. I said all of that to let you know that there were, AND still are, folks that just love the ” tar” (whatever that means?)
out of both of you. Good article and I do know what you are saying here. I just want to let you both and the whole wide world know that we loved you then and love you now….Wahoooooo!!!!!!! Much Love 
Sin may result in isolation, it’s true. But biblically speaking, it seems that more often God temporarily isolates those He is planning to draw into great intimacy with Himself and to greatly use for His purposes. Consider the following examples:
*The isolation of Joseph in prison prior to becoming a prince in Egypt
*Moses in the wilderness of Midian for 40 years prior to his return to Egypt at age 80
*John the Baptist living in the wilderness during his public ministry
*The isolation of Jesus for 40 days during the wilderness temptation
*The isolation of the Apostle Paul for 14 years prior to meeting Peter and the other apostles
*The isolation of Paul during his Roman imprisonment
It seems that isolation, when it is ordained by God, can be a tool in His hand to foster deeper intimacy with Him, and thereby, greater fruitfulness for His Kingdom and Glory. Painful as isolation is for those of us who are “people persons” and relationship-oriented, God does indeed isolate at times for seasons a deeper pruning and growth.
I am reminded of the isolation I experienced – the pulling away from other relationships – that occurred when I first met and married my husband. When single, I had had many friends. But those relationships needed to play a lesser role in order for me to cultivate the primary relationship of my marriage. When we spread ourselves too thin in the relationship arena, we end up with quantity over quality. God pursues QUALITY in His relationship with His people: as much as He desires it, we absolutely REQUIRE it if we are to truly know Him and bear the abundant fruit of the life of Christ within us. Do we want to truly KNOW Him? If so, God will not take a back seat in His relationship with us. This discipline will be a privilege to those who seek to KNOW him experientially and intimately.
Isolation ordained by God will build our relationship with God. He will become our “BFF” (Best Friend Forever).