An online resource for gospel ministers (sermoncentral.com) has an article titled “73 Problems Pastors Face And How To Address Them”. If pastors have as many as 73 problems then ministry is not for the chicken-hearted. One of the problems that pastors are likely going to experience is desertion. In Paul’s private letter to Timothy, he complained of how he had been left alone. To appreciate the pain which he felt in this verse of Scripture, we need to re-visit his time in Asia. According to the account of Luke in Acts 19, the first extraordinary thing that took place was the baptism in the Holy Spirit experienced by 12 disciples. Then we read that God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul, as even handkerchiefs or aprons from the apostle were instruments for healing the sick and casting out evil spirits.
With so many exploits done for the people of Asia in the name of the Lord, how could they all have turned away from Paul? This is a sad commentary on human nature. Most people operate on the principle that, ‘there are no permanent friends but permanent interest’. When the people enjoyed his miraculous ministry, they flocked to him. When he fell on bad times standing trial in defence of the gospel, they fled. This is not to suggest that only pastors are prone to desertion. You may have been left in the cold by people you helped one time or the other. You are not alone; that has happened to so many others before you. What is even more important is that God will live up to His promise to never leave nor forsake you. You are not alone because God promised never to leave nor forsake you.