Traveling Solo. Reclaim Your Time With God in Sanctified SolitudeNäide

Whenever I cruise as a solo traveler, when I arrive for my reservations, I am always asked, "Are you alone?" Those words used to sting, but now I smile and say, "Yes." God has given me the peace that surpasses all understanding. When I am seated, people often strike up a conversation, but during dinner times when they don’t, I look out at the sea and converse with God in my heart. Most times, it’s pure gratitude for Him being everything I need, and other times, it’s awe. Awe, I get to serve the God of Heaven and the Earth, and He has filled my heart with so much love and admiration for life itself.

As believers, we should not fear solitude, especially when traveling alone. Instead, we should embrace it. If there is a state, country, or culture you want to visit, pray, and prepare for it. The enemy wants to keep you bound in fear, but God will provide you with safety.

Your deep desire might be to have companionship; that's a valid and reasonable desire. However, when making that request, be sure to sincerely thank the Lord for being your most significant and steady companion. For years, when I was stuck in a pit of despair, I also delayed wonderful experiences, waiting for the Lord to send the right partner or friends into my life. But God never called us to stagnancy in the wait, but to forward motion. Even in the moments when you experience your deepest hurts, God’s path is always ahead of you.

In the first chapter of Ruth, Naomi and Ruth both lose their husbands. Naomi decides to return to her homeland, and Ruth vows to go with her. Although Naomi was bitter within her soul, asking to be called Mara, "And he said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me," (Ruth 1:20 KJV), she still trusted she would find solace once she returned to her land. Although both were going through a tough season of grief, they kept doing the next right thing. Neither of them could have predicted the blessing the Lord had prepared for them. This is also true for you.

You may have faced dark times because of loss, abandonment, violence, betrayal, or financial hardship, just to name a few. With this struggle, you now carry a deeply ingrained fear that sometimes manifests as a need for control or meticulous planning. No matter how much you plan, some things won’t be clear until you experience them.

Traumatic experiences can change your outlook on life, but they should never alter how you see God, since He remains the same yesterday, today, and forever.

You can regain the courage and bravery you have lost due to past experiences with people in God's presence by surrendering your heart, plans, and desires to Him and trusting that He will bring good out of it. When you live in the confines of fear, God’s love has not been perfected in your heart because there is no fear in love. Fear has torment, but Christ has promised peace and liberty through His shed blood on the cross.

Those years that I was bound to fear revealed that I didn’t fully trust the Lord. I prayed often for freedom from fear, but freedom was already my portion; I just needed to lean into what God had already promised. If you have been in a state of fear, seek the Lord through His Word and prayer, and then, in faith, let go. Let go of all the what-ifs and embrace the even-ifs because God is with you.

While traveling with friends and family is healthy, nothing compares to following in your Savior’s footsteps and spending time alone with Him.

Will you trust Him?

Here are a few practical travel tips:

Pray and plan — prayer should precede your plans, always.

Stay in locations that are well-lit, conveniently located near amenities, and safe.

Share your location with loved ones—tracking adds an extra layer of security.

Stay alert to your surroundings. Put your phone down while walking or riding in an Uber.

Never give out your travel details, such as hotel and flight information, to strangers.

Thank you so much for reading this devotional,

Be Encouraged.