“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you'” (Hebrews 13:5 ).
Many people endure loneliness. Sometimes family and friends are far away from us. At other times affliction or some particular trial can make us feel very alone and isolated.
There was an elderly woman I knew who died years ago. I can remember having a conversation with her on this subject of loneliness.
Her ordeal with loneliness had taken an ugly turn to the point she was nearly paralyzed with the fear of being alone and lived in a constant state of anxiety. I understood something of what she was going through because I too had felt that kind of anxiety during the worst times of my illness. Loneliness can be a terrifying experience for many people.
What I learned through my suffering and feelings of loneliness is that we are never truly alone. God promises that He will never forsake us. Jesus tells us that His Holy Spirit, the Comforter, will abide with us forever.
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever” (John 14:16).
This is what I told the elderly lady, that Jesus is always with us through His Spirit so that we are never truly alone. Also, the very angels of God are watching over us to protect us-–so we have nothing to fear.
If these truths can sink down into our hearts and fill our minds, we can drive away the loneliness and the fear that comes with it. If we truly get a revelation that Jesus is with us–-loneliness can never hold sway over us again.
Prayer: Dear Lord, chase away our fears of loneliness and fill us instead with the presence of Your Spirit. Amen.
Many people endure loneliness. Sometimes family and friends are far away from us. At other times affliction or some particular trial can make us feel very alone and isolated.
There was an elderly woman I knew who died years ago. I can remember having a conversation with her on this subject of loneliness.
Her ordeal with loneliness had taken an ugly turn to the point she was nearly paralyzed with the fear of being alone and lived in a constant state of anxiety. I understood something of what she was going through because I too had felt that kind of anxiety during the worst times of my illness. Loneliness can be a terrifying experience for many people.
What I learned through my suffering and feelings of loneliness is that we are never truly alone. God promises that He will never forsake us. Jesus tells us that His Holy Spirit, the Comforter, will abide with us forever.
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever” (John 14:16).
This is what I told the elderly lady, that Jesus is always with us through His Spirit so that we are never truly alone. Also, the very angels of God are watching over us to protect us-–so we have nothing to fear.
If these truths can sink down into our hearts and fill our minds, we can drive away the loneliness and the fear that comes with it. If we truly get a revelation that Jesus is with us–-loneliness can never hold sway over us again.
Prayer: Dear Lord, chase away our fears of loneliness and fill us instead with the presence of Your Spirit. Amen.
Karlton Douglas
Copyright 2016
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