ALONE BUT NOT ABANDONED

ALONE BUT NOT ABANDONED
Tuesday, May 27, 2025 by PATRICIA CAMERON

Categories: devotional / GUEST AUTHORS / Reviews and Interviews / TUESDAY'S TREASURE

PLEASE WELCOME

PATRICIA CAMERON

TUESDAY’S TREASURE

Abandoned but not alone

Garrett loved his three-week staff role at a summer camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains until “camp crud” hit two weeks in. For four days, he lay in his bunk, sick, frustrated, and isolated from the fun and community he’d been enjoying.

“The only one I had to talk to was God.” Garrett began to question God, wrestling with why he was sidelined when he had come to serve. He was stuck looking at four walls.

Always one to joke and tease, and one who loved being around people, that bed felt like a prison cell, and he was in no condition to break out. The “crud” had hit him hard.

But in the quiet, God’s presence met him. He felt encouraged to be patient, trusting God would bring something good from the experience.

The promise of the Holy Spirit

The prophet Joel gave us a glimpse of one of God’s most precious gifts: the pouring out of the Holy Spirit in us, His people. (See Joel 1-3.)

This Spirit gives us the ability to know the Lord, the power to believe, and the faith to follow Him.

About 800 years later, Peter connected the dots and boldly referenced Joel’s prophecy on the Day of Pentecost.

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly, a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:1-4 NIV).

As the disciples gathered a week after Jesus ascended to Heaven, the Holy Spirit came like a rushing wind. Tongues of fire appeared, and they began speaking in other languages. As crowds questioned what was happening, Peter declared Joel’s prophecy was being fulfilled before their eyes.

Jesus rose up. His presence came down.

Jesus’ ascension did not mean He was leaving His children alone, but His presence was coming down. His physical presence left, but God’s spiritual presence came down to be with them forever.

We, too, have access to the power from the Holy Spirit. His spirit pours out upon us and remains in us.

That same Spirit encouraged Garrett in his struggle. It gave him hope and reminded him that God was still at work and could bring something good from it.

A song and a sign

Garrett, the only staffer from Louisiana, had relentlessly requested the song Louisiana Saturday Night during camp activities, but it had never been selected.

After four days in bed, he rejoined the group for dinner; no one had expected him to be there. As he walked in, the staff cheered in affirmation and support.

And “Louisiana Saturday Night” began to play.

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Don’t know Jesus? You can.

It would be my greatest honor to take your hand, introduce you, and walk you through how to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and how to have a personal relationship with Him. Find out more here.

ABOUT PATRICIA’S BOOK: EVER PRESENT

Do you feel disconnected from God amid life’s overwhelming demands?

What if you could see His presence in every moment, no matter how ordinary or chaotic?

In Ever Present, Patricia Cameron invites you to rediscover God’s constant companionship through heartfelt stories of everyday people encountering His love. As an author, speaker, and Bible study leader, Patricia blends personal testimony, Scripture, and real-life examples to show how God walks alongside us in our daily routines, battles and victories. Her message is simple yet profound: God is closer than you think, ready to meet you wherever you are.

In this book, you will:

Discover the hope and peace that comes from recognizing God’s presence in your life.
Learn to hear His voice through the stories of ordinary people.
Witness how God transforms daily struggles into moments of joy and faith.
Gain practical insights on embracing God’s nearness in every situation.
Experience the comfort of knowing you’re never alone.

Ever Present isn’t just a book—it’s an invitation to experience the joy of living in God’s presence. This book inspires readers to seek and find God in the details of their lives, no matter the challenges they face.

Don’t wait—start your journey to rediscovering God’s ever-present love today.

Buy Link

ABOUT PATRICIA CAMERON

Patricia Cameron is an author, speaker, Bible study leader, and writer for her Faith-Driven Joy blog. Through her testimony, personal stories, and scriptures, she guides women to seek hope, experience love, receive encouragement, and embrace joyful faith. The unexpected loss of her husband when he was 45 tested her faith, but God showed her she could find joy again. She shares her journey of rediscovering that joy in her book Grief Unwrapped: Discovering Joy in a Season of Sorrow. An adventurer at heart, Patricia loves traveling and anything outdoors, seeking to live life to the fullest. She has the honor and joy of raising three sons and holds her daughter in Heaven close to heart. You can find out more at patriciacameronwrites.com.

MY REVIEW *****

Masterfully written and authentic. Patricia gives us a wealth of examples from her own story, anecdotes, and personal stories of others who experienced the struggles mentioned in the chapter, quotes, Scripture references as examples, and even the suggestion of a song to listen to. My heart was particularly challenged in her chapter dealing with Trust and Obedience.

A great gift for someone you know who is going through a difficult time.

Though a quick read if you just scan the book, I recommend taking one chapter a week, rereading, taking notes, highlighting those special words of wisdom that speaks to your heart.

I highly recommend this book.

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