The scariest place in the world is not one geographical location. The scariest place is not a prison or a violent neighborhood. The scariest place is not a village under attack by terrorists. The scariest place is not a courtroom. The scariest place in the world is not in the presence of your enemy. The scariest place in the world is the place most of us attempt to avoid. The scariest place in the world is to be ALONE. There is no escape from yourself. The scariest place in the world is an internal condition. The internal condition of a man or woman is a place that has no escape. What is the condition of your heart?

Every location in the world has a means of escape. Every building or institution has an exit door. A prison can release a prisoner. A person will be initially afraid of prison, but he or she will learn to overcome that fear. If you live in a violent neighborhood; you can move to a safe neighborhood. A village under attack is scary but the terror is temporary. If you survive the terror attack, you can leave the village. If you remain in the village, you can prepare to defend yourself the next time an attack comes. A courtroom can provoke fear but it is not close to being the scariest place on Earth. A courtroom has law and order. The lawbreaker may be afraid to enter. Each one of these scenarios provides a means to cope. Each one of these scenarios provides a means of escape. The scariest place in the world has no escape.

I consider being alone the scariest place in the world because there is no filter for the human heart. The man who is alone has no distraction from his own mind. The man who is alone has no distraction from his own feelings. The man who is alone has no one to blame for his current condition. Each human is a spiritual being living within a material body. The condition of our spirit is what controls the body. The body does not control the spirit. The internal spirit controls the body. The scariest place to be is with your own imperfect thoughts. How many of us can handle being alone with our thoughts? How many of us implement various forms of distraction to avoid dealing with our own hearts?

The technology we use is a form of a distraction from ourselves. The television is always on. Our cellphones prevent us feeling alone. We talk to each other about nothing. Imagine a world with no social media. Just think of how we developed a world that compels people to invade the private worlds of others. Why do we consume our free time with viewing the lives of others instead of addressing our own internal issues?

I heard a Preacher talk about a similar topic. The Preacher said that no one wants to be alone with God. God might actually talk to them. God may force you to change. Imagine that!

People have a tendency to hide their true feelings. People have a tendency to focus on the lives of others and never address their own needs. What is so bad about being alone? It is scary to be alone. I remember when I had to battle with suicidal thoughts whenever I was alone. I remember the regret I would feel about past mistakes. I remember the depression that would emerge in my heart when I was alone. I know why people are afraid to be alone. The quiet time allows the human heart to speak to the mind. Some of us live with pain. That pain can be hidden as long as the noise is loud.

I use to wear my earbuds all day and night. I would use the music as a form of medicine. I did not pray or meditate. Whenever I had negative thoughts I would replace them with the words from the song I was listening to at the moment.

Who wants to be in a quiet place? Some men and women cannot handle the quiet place. I meet children who seek for the quiet place. Children are not corrupted like the adults. A child will thrive in the quiet place. The child does not consider the scariest place in the world to be alone. A child is happy to be alone. A child is only afraid of people they cannot trust. Most children trust themselves. How many adults trust themselves?

The corrupted heart must be made pure. The only method of purifying the heart is to be alone. A person who is alone will be confronted by their own thoughts, will, and emotions. The man in the mirror is the one we are afraid of. The man in the mirror is the cruelest judge. Who do you blame for being overweight? Who do you blame for your depression? Who do you blame for failed relationships? What if most of our issues were self-inflicted wounds? Many of us cannot handle that responsibility.

The scariest place in the world is ALONE. The place with no escape. The place with no excuses. The place that has no finger pointing. The place that we avoid.

By: Derek Rodgers

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