THE LONELY

I have six different versions of the Bible which I am reading consistently. I just finished the ESV and have now just started on the NASB. I just got through reading in Genesis Chapter 7 about Noah and his family. I know that they were busy with the animals, and that had to be a lot of comfort for them as well, but I was wondering if they were lonely in the ark? So often I have felt like me and my family were all alone, and asked the troubling question, 'Are we the last ones one earth who love You?'

For some, seeing someone in the grocery store or when you go for a walk in the neighborhood is the only time you're around other people. Someone in the store you smile at, may be the only person outside of your home or work that you “interact” with that week. I think of all those singles who are alone living in apartments.

Where do we go when we're lonely? Well we could reach out to neighbors, I took a big chance and reached out to a neighbor down the street since I knew we had similar interests from seeing a post she had on line. But that was almost a year ago, and I guess I scared her? You get on social media wanting to connect with others, but it appears that they are already doing things with others in their perfectly happy, busy lives. You could go to your family, but perhaps they are too busy too, or you've been hurt by family and feel better off being lonely without them.

You get up the courage and attend a new church, only to have your hopes dashed again, as they are nice and greet you, but after a few Sundays they've already forgotten you. You go to a social event in a church or in your community and end up going even though you're a little nervous still. You end up in a group of people who are talking all around you and not exactly too you and you feel invisible and ignored, and when you do speak up, they don't hear a word that you say. You end up going home feeling lonelier than you were to begin with.

More often I have left church services drained with my heart feeling so heavy. I spend a couple of days being so weighed down I find myself having to recover from it, being all emptied out, never being filled. Seeking a smile, someone to care and finding only glares, people staring and when my eyes meet another, they quickly turn away.

Young couples who are married are lonely too! As they have each other but friendships are so very hard to come by as you get older. I have a dear friend who dumped me right after I got married. I was thinking, yes things will change but was very excited about her coming to visit and stay with us. But I stopped hearing from her only weeks after our wedding. We need to stop seeing others for their marital status!

It appears we are in a crisis of loneliness. And everywhere we turn we are not getting filled up. We are so hungry and thirsty and are not being fed. We turn to church, family, community, workplaces and feel like we leave empty handed, every single time.

In 1 Kings 19: Elijah is fleeing from Jezebel, in fear for his life. He ends up lodging in a cave in Horeb, all alone the last one left. He was told to go stand upon the mountain before the Lord and behold the Lord was passing by! Daddy was with him the entire time, he was not ever alone.

In Psalms 25:16-22 and in Psalm 142 David talks of his loneliness and the troubles of his heart. He cries out to Daddy for relief. Seeking Him and his refuge is in Him always.

Lonely? We need to be careful where we try to fill up our loneliness. May we seek His face continually, knowing that this life is not forever. Jesus IS coming back. Let us trust Him at all times, we can trust Him in the loneliness! For me He gets completely rid of my loneliness as I find when I seek Him, He is always there and I know without a doubt that I am not alone.

I think of Noah and his family, when they finally got to exit the ark, to get out and walk on dry ground again. To see the beautiful greens again, to once more see His beautiful creation they had not seen in such a long time. Letting all of the animals out, letting them go free. Wow what a scene that must have been! To watch the birds all fly, see the horses, donkeys and sheep and prancing and roaming around. Seeing all of the chickens and ducks waddling around and quack quack quacking. Oh what a joy that time had to have been!

I pray now as I end that all who read this will be fed, knowing that Jesus is with you now, remember, Jesus is always with you, we are never really alone!

Jesus is with you right now, remember.

Deuteronomy 31:6-8 Philippians 4:4-20 Hebrews 13:5-6

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