Do you ever find yourself feeling an unwanted and overwhelming feeling of loneliness? Maybe even despair, hopeless, or even just a lifeless attitude?
It doesn't come as a surprise I'm sure but loneliness does effect believers and nonbelievers alike, years of relation with God and our souls may be attacked at anytime and any point in our lives. Remember, even the most faithful may deal with these issues and a heavy amount at that.
Loneliness may even lead to depression and anxiety. These symptoms are all too real for those that Satan brings his wrath upon. Loneliness fills our hearts with a lack of desire and a un-shakeable doubt and worth in our own lives. The darkest times can be spent alone and suffering with our own mind (thoughts and feelings). The deepest hurt can be when God doesn’t feel present and your heart physically aches for something…anything. You may spend countless nights upset, confused, and in tears but you don't quite understand why. You may search for answers yourself, you may cry out in anger, you may even pray to God and scream why, but you still feel…unwanted, unused, and ultimately defeated. You wake up and have no strength but get up anyway because you must or maybe you don’t? You hurt those around you, all your relationships around you feel weak, and you can't seem to do anything “right”. What can you do to make it better or make it “go away”, you ask?
But then you remember Christ…you remember what He did for you on the cross, what He DOES for you even in your worst moments. You remember the cross, your Savior, and how blessed you truly are. You remember that this lack of emotions or hurt you feel are trials and they are there for a reason. You remember that your emotions and mental state are affected by how you see yourself, how you spend time with our God, and what you decide to make a priority and even worship.
The spirit of the Lord God is WITH & IN YOU.
He loves you, He protects you, He is THERE for you. When you feel lonely…you are not alone. When you feel unloved…you are loved infinitely. When your heart and soul feel weak…God protects and gives strength even when you may not agree.
Calling to Him is not easy but it’s the answer your being needs. It is your faith and trust that God will be in control when you feel completely out of control. It’s prayer, fellowship, community, and constant discipline that will keep you afloat.
God gave Jeremiah an incredibly hard assignment, and the trials he struggled with and human emotions he felt lasted for forty years. God had purpose and God had a special plan through the frustrating, fearful, confused, and depressed emotions Jeremiah felt. Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I made you in your mother’s womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” There is so much to be learned from the trials of loneliness and fear. God reveals Himself to us in ways we would never have thought after our burdens are laid out, tested, and made known.
In times of waiting, in times of crying out in desperate need of help…remember He is nearer to us than anyone else. While our souls wait on the Lord, He makes us ready to receive His message. Yes, the wait is difficult, yes it is a daily challenge, but keep pressing on in faith. Give your all to the One who loves, keeps, and holds you closer than anyone. He knows the purpose behind it and knows your heart and your aches. Press on for you are a beautifully made man or woman of God and He cares for you and your soul. There is hope, renewal, and peace with a God who created you with a perfect plan in mind.
Jeremiah 29:11-13, “For I know the plans that I have for you, ‘declares the Lord,’ plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” He wants us to always depend and rely on Him all of the time, not just when we have doubts and fears. Build His kingdom with your struggles, and remember you are not the only one who may need a hand or word of encouragement. Brothers and sisters all around also carry their own suffering. Don’t withdraw from your life because you are hurting, allow your hurt to make you empathetic to those around you. Encourage, listen, and love those to press on in faith. Believers, to look back on our earthly lives once we’ve reached our eternal home and see the details of our lives put together for reasons we couldn’t see before will make our sufferings feel like a privilege because we served a gracious God. We should look to that day rather than the hurting one.
It will all be well worth it for that moment when we hear Him say, “well done, good and faithful one!”
John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, or let it be fearful.”
“Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6.
~ encourage one another ~
