I Think I'm The Only One...

(Note: the hi-lited passages provide links to the Scriptures referenced)

One way that Satan can deceive us when we are weak is to "lure us away" from others by making us think that we are the "only one" who has the troubles or thoughts that we have.
The bible describes Satan as a "prowling lion", seeking who he will "devour" (1 Peter 5:7-9). With this image of Satan in mind, I picture him in one of those "Discovery Channel" scenes where you see the little gazelles down at the watering hole and the lion is prowling about, looking for that one little gazelle off by itself, isolated from the rest of the herd - and then he makes his attack - He can so easily stalk us and attack when he is able to lure us off by ourselves, making us think we are "the only one who....."
One single mom writes (and I have permission to re-write this):
"One night I was sitting on my porch, feeling absolutely isolated and thinking 'no one understands', 'no one has dealt with someone like him before' and I started thinking it just wasn't worth it anymore - I had a very vivid picture of just giving up and how exactly I would finally just end it all for myself and my kids and it would all be over and then we could just be in heaven once and for all and not have to deal with him any more. My thoughts became darker and darker and I even started to come up with a very detailed plan for "how I would do it".
Suddenly, the Spirit rose up in me, offended, and said "NO. STOP. These thoughts are NOT from Me -I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand (Deut 32:39). I know the number of your days (Job 14:5, Psalm 39:4) and this is to be determined by ME, not by you or by the enemy!" God began to speak to me and helped me realize that my thoughts are either of Him or of darkness and that these thoughts of death were NOT from my Creator, who had already numbered my days and who was in control of each day, but that these thoughts were of Satan. Then, once I recognized the source of my thoughts, God said "Why do you think your enemy wants to kill you? It is because he knows that you are a threat to him. He knows that I have plans for you - to redeem you, to deliver you, to use your weakness to bring glory to my name (2 Cor 12:9). He is afraid of you; he wants you dead because he knows I have AWESOME plans for you and for your children!" God also showed me that to think of "death" was pointless, because as a believer, I was already "dead" to all of my past mistakes, past sin, dead to all my "problems" in the flesh here on earth - I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me! (Gal 2:20).
Somehow, by God's grace, just knowing this empowered me and gave me new strength and a new resolution. I rebuked those thoughts from Satan, and spoke out loud that these thoughts were NOT from My Father who loves me but that He, My Father, wanted me to LIVE and to accomplish His purpose for me (Psalm 138:7-8)!"
From talking to lots of single moms, I know that thoughts of just "putting an end to it" are far too common. If Satan has tried to fool YOU with thinking that would be the best way to just end the pain you are in right now, then just know that you are NOT the only one - do NOT let him "lure you away" - Satan knows the gifts, the blessings, the glory that Your Father has in store for you - and he will do everything he can to keep you from those blessings. Now that you know that this is an old trick, a "one-liner" he uses on everyone, be on your guard against him and stand firm against his lies - Let nothing get between you and the gifts that Your Father has in store for you!

Lord, you say that Your sheep will know the voice of their Shepherd, that they shall never perish and that no one can snatch them from Your hand (John 10:27-28). Lord, help ME to know Your voice. Help me, in my darkest times, in the valley of the shadow of death, to know that you are with me, to comfort me and to lead me and to know that you will NEVER leave me or forsake me (Psalm 23, Deut 31:6). Help me Lord to guard my heart against the enemy and his lies and to know that You have BLESSINGS in store for me, LIFE and NOT death (Prov 4:23, Phil 4:7, Isaiah 30:18, Rev 2:9-11, Rev 22:17) ! In Jesus Name, Amen!