Do you enjoy your alone time? Grabbing a cup of coffee in the quietness of the early morning and enjoying the stillness before it gets hectic? It seems we rarely get to be still long enough to even read a good book.
But what about feeling alone?
The quietness of isolation can be deafening. Maybe you feel all alone even when you’re amongst a bunch of people. Or, perhaps you feel as if no one even cares or calls to check on you.
Loneliness hurts.
It cuts deep and leaves us with scars that don’t seem to heal. Even as a Christian, you may have experienced the emptiness of feeling alone even though you know that with Jesus in your life you are never ever really alone.
I am the type of person who loves my alone time with the Lord. I also love fellowshipping with friends that I can laugh with and who give and receive encouragement. But sometimes, I feel very lonely. It’s in these moments I have found myself asking, “God, where are you? Why don’t I feel your presence? Why am I feeling this way?”
Let’s face it, the enemy knows exactly what hurts us. What cuts us to the core. What paralyzes us from doing what God has called us to do. If we are in God’s will, taking big steps, and seeing Him moving in our lives and in those around us, do you think he will let that continue? Nope. In fact, he will do everything to throw us off course. But our God never leaves our side. I love Isaiah 41:10. It says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Even in the Bible, God’s people were not exempt from the pain of loneliness. David cried out to God in Psalm 25:16 saying, “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.” In 2 Timothy 4:16, Paul writes, “The first time I was brought before the judge, no one was there to help me. Everyone had run away.”Verse 17 goes on to say, “but the Lord stood with me.” These words show me that when Paul was in prison and truly alone, he realized Jesus was with him.
Sometimes, loneliness can feel like a prison sentence, but it doesn’t have to. We as Christians, have a Father who says He will never leave us nor forsake us. No one loves us more or cares more about our deepest pain than Jesus. Think about how Jesus must have felt when his friends abandoned Him and people betrayed Him before He went to the cross for us. Talk about feeling lonely!
Our Father calls us into fellowship with Him and with others. This is what helps us persevere through life. We need others alongside us to encourage, uplift, and help bear our burdens. When you feel like you are alone, talk with Jesus. He is always with you and waiting to fellowship with you. If you feel like you need someone to talk to or a face-to-face conversation, reach out to someone you trust – one who will encourage you. Get rid of that lonely feeling once and for all, so that you can feel the joy and peace that Jesus wants us to experience through life with Him.
Heavenly Father, thank you for always being with me, for reminding me that I am never alone. Fill my heart today with your peace and love so that I can enjoy the life you have given me so that I can also be an encouragement to others. In Jesus name, amen.
Beth Nahkala
Lean into Jesus Ministries
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