“Rather than turn from loneliness, what if we turned toward it? Could it be that loneliness is not a curse but a gift? A gift from God? Max Lucado, Traveling Light: The Promise of Psalm 23
Loneliness can be a very interesting emotion. It is something that can be very devastating that can be felt even in the company of many others. It has driven many people towards things they should have stayed away from. Things they thought for certain were the sure fire cure from their feeling of isolation and solitude.
On our way to finding the solution to our downward state we bypass the true resolution or definitive answer, our Shepherd. In Psalm 23 we find a promise that is repeated multiple times throughout the Bible, “for Thou art WITH me.” The presence of the Lord is something we should never doubt in spite of the feelings we are feeling inside.
In Exodus 33 I don’t think Moses was feeling “lonely” but he was seeking answers from God and God’s reply to him was “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” This is a promise that is later repeated to Joshua in Joshua 1:17 “God will be with you as He was with Moses.” Joshua 3:7 “As I was with Moses I will be with You.” God was with David, with Jonah, with Noah, Ruth, Abraham, Elijah, Enoch, and the list goes on and on.
Our name is on that list too. We too can be made exceedingly glad with the joy of God’s presence. We don’t ever have to feel alone. There are times when this emotion is going to try and get the best of us. It is during these times when we are at our weakest that we need to turn to the Lord and rejoice over the joy of His presence. Snuggle up to Jesus, lay your head on His shoulder and remind yourself that you are not alone. When we do this what started out a curse turns into a gift. What Satan intended for evil God turns into a blessing.
It’s important that on our way to the solution we don’t pass by the cure. How many times have you started to turn to go somewhere and you run into someone. Startled to see them there we blurt out, “Oh I didn’t see you there” and on we go. Frequently we do this to God. We turn towards where we think we need to go and we run into God who was standing there all along. Our first reaction is, “Oh I didn’t see You there” and on we go.
No, stop and take the time to use these moments of weakness to find strength in the presence of God. With the Lord we never have to feel lonely again. Satan will try to convince us we are but it’s during those moments that we are to draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Loneliness can be a very interesting emotion. It is something that can be very devastating that can be felt even in the company of many others. It has driven many people towards things they should have stayed away from. Things they thought for certain were the sure fire cure from their feeling of isolation and solitude.
On our way to finding the solution to our downward state we bypass the true resolution or definitive answer, our Shepherd. In Psalm 23 we find a promise that is repeated multiple times throughout the Bible, “for Thou art WITH me.” The presence of the Lord is something we should never doubt in spite of the feelings we are feeling inside.
In Exodus 33 I don’t think Moses was feeling “lonely” but he was seeking answers from God and God’s reply to him was “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” This is a promise that is later repeated to Joshua in Joshua 1:17 “God will be with you as He was with Moses.” Joshua 3:7 “As I was with Moses I will be with You.” God was with David, with Jonah, with Noah, Ruth, Abraham, Elijah, Enoch, and the list goes on and on.
Our name is on that list too. We too can be made exceedingly glad with the joy of God’s presence. We don’t ever have to feel alone. There are times when this emotion is going to try and get the best of us. It is during these times when we are at our weakest that we need to turn to the Lord and rejoice over the joy of His presence. Snuggle up to Jesus, lay your head on His shoulder and remind yourself that you are not alone. When we do this what started out a curse turns into a gift. What Satan intended for evil God turns into a blessing.
It’s important that on our way to the solution we don’t pass by the cure. How many times have you started to turn to go somewhere and you run into someone. Startled to see them there we blurt out, “Oh I didn’t see you there” and on we go. Frequently we do this to God. We turn towards where we think we need to go and we run into God who was standing there all along. Our first reaction is, “Oh I didn’t see You there” and on we go.
No, stop and take the time to use these moments of weakness to find strength in the presence of God. With the Lord we never have to feel lonely again. Satan will try to convince us we are but it’s during those moments that we are to draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
We need to use our feeling of solitude as our clue to snuggle up to Jesus before we give ourselves permission to seek for solutions in all the wrong places. Our loneliness will never bring back the parent we just lost, the friend that is no longer there, the child we miss so much but it can bring us closer to God. We don’t have to be victims of our circumstances when there is victory in Jesus to be found in the gift of His presence. The choice is ours to take the time to look for the confirmation of His presence instead of the evidence of His absence. Proof that is abundant, evidence that is true that indeed God is WITH us, we are not alone thanks to Jesus.
© 2009 Karen J. Gillett @ Pencil Marks and Recipes Publishing
4 comments:
You did such a great job with this quote. How many times have I sought out comfort in people and things instead of going to the solution ...the Lord. Yes, we can't live by our feelings. Instead, I know what I know is true about God. He is who He says He is in His Word. Thank you, Karen.
Beautifully said! I read your post twice and it touches me. ... can't help but think of the words of "Jesus Loves Me"
Little ones to Him belong, They are weak but He is strong....
Our loneliness is part of our "condition" as humans living here. We are weak -- God's Word shows us clearly where to find strength.
Amen, sister, truly we are never alone with Jesus.
I like that, "that we don't pass by the cure." Thanks for the reminder that God's presence is always there waiting for us to abide in His presence.
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