Do You Feel Isolated?

“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him'” Genesis 2:18

   It is not good for any of us to be alone. It is said that when prisoners are left in isolation for too long that strange things start happening to their minds. Isolation is considered one of the worst forms of punishment.

     Sometimes those with chronic and long term illness have had to deal with isolation and loneliness. They are sometimes abandoned by loved ones who cannot deal with the challenges. At times it is simply the fact that no one wants to be reminded that they too are mortal and their health will one day fail that drives them away. Nursing homes are filled with those who feel isolated and abandoned. It takes a special kind of love and compassion to help those who are ill.

   I am blessed that I have support and comfort from loved ones. Yet I know not everyone has such a support system. It can be devastating to live with chronic health issues, but even more so when the afflicted person must do so alone.

    While we are ultimately never alone because our Lord is always with us, God knows we need others to stand beside us, to lift us up when we fall, and to care for and comfort us when we are down. It is not good for anyone to be left alone in their affliction and pain.

   If you are alone in your affliction, my heart goes out to you. I encourage you to seek support, to ask the Lord to bring comforters and helpers your way. The one thing that is worse than living with a chronic illness is to live with it alone. Let others know you are hurting and reach out for help.

   Prayer: Dear Lord, though we are truly never alone when we have You, bring others our way to help us with our burden and to lift us when we fall. Amen.