“Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!”
For those of us who are single and in dire need of simple physical affection and companionship these verses may not pose much comfort. However, I feel that we need to explore and ask God into our loneliness nonetheless.
I have experienced and continue to experience both the physical loneliness that longs for the constant companionship and simple physical affection of another as well as the deep inner loneliness that longs for more of God and desires to be closer to Him. As I interact with my brothers and sisters in Christ right now I am seeing both types of loneliness are prevalent among us.
I have heard many different reasons why God allows loneliness into our lives, even sometimes while our lives are flooded by people. This post isn’t being written to explore that, this post is being written to make an open invitation to God to come into the midst of our loneliness and to minister into our lives. This post is to draw His promises from scripture to bring us hope and truth to pray as we ask for His presence and maybe even deliverance from our present suffering.
I think that we can safely say that we need to remain in prayer and to keep our focus totally and completely on God in these times. In Scripture we are given both direction and assurances for these times in our lives.
“Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,
Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” 1 Peter 5:6-7
“For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people.” 1 Samuel 12:22
“Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].” Isaiah 41:10
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
Maybe, like me this loneliness is a little more about physical companionship and the need for simple physical touch and affection. We aren’t left out in His word either and I feel that we too can draw comfort from its contents.
“Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.” Psalm 25:16
“And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”” Genesis 2:18
“Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?” Ecclesiastes 4:9-11
“A father of the fatherless and a judge and protector of the widows is God in His holy habitation.
God places the solitary in families and gives the desolate a home in which to dwell; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.”
“He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
I think that no matter the situation in our life that leaves us lonely and our hearts longing for connection that we can hold to these promises and assurances. Let us then hold these verses in our hearts and cry out praying as each of us needs to pray. Let us also remember God’s promises and cry out to Him to fulfill them in our lives today.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10
“Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.”
And these amazing truths from Christ Himself; “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:18 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27
Father God, we bow at Your feet today in humility as Your children through adoption because of the blood of Christ Jesus our Savior and Lord. Ephesians 1:5, Romans 9:8, Galatians 4:5-7 As we come before You today many of us are lonely in one way or another. We invite You Lord into our situations to come and be with us in our pain. Draw near to us and draw us ever nearer to Yourself so that we might be comforted. We ask Father, that for those of us who are lonely for someone in our lives that You would hear our cry and send us a companion. You created us to have relationships both with Yourself and with others and some of us You created with deeper needs for physical companionship and simple affection. No matter our need You are the Most High Sovereign God and Creator, You know our need and how to comfort us. Please shine Your face upon us today and warm us with Your glory. Comfort our pain, help us to understand this loneliness that we feel and what it means, and fill this need in each of our lives in a way that is tailor fit to each of us. We love You God, we need You, and we want more of You in our lives every day. Thank You for Your promises and for loving us so very much. “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.“ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 We praise You and worship You and we pray these things in the precious name of Christ Jesus our Lord. AMEN
This Narrow Path... 