Lonely: July 21, 2010

Today's Word for Wednesday July 21, 2010

LONELY

DEFINITION

A depressing feeling about being alone; destitute of sympathetic or friendly companionship; without company; isolated.

SCRIPTURE

"No one stood with me, but all forsook me. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me." II Timothy 4: 16-17a

"For there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul." Psalm 142:4

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

How many times in life have you felt lonely? Many people across our world today are lonely because they feel no one cares about them and they have lost hope. As kids we used to say. "They have no life." And that is exactly how one feels when they are lonely and do not know Jesus as their Savior. Life has many opportunities for loneliness for those that do not know Jesus. Separation from a spouse, family or a friend brings on loneliness.

In Psalm 142, David describes his feelings of being lonely. At the time he composed the Psalm he was on the run from Saul and he was all alone in a cave.

Paul also knew what it was to be lonely. Paul was writing from prison and felt all alone because everyone had deserted him. Not only did Paul and David feel lonely but they knew people wanted them killed. However in their loneliness they knew they had someone they could count on. Paul said. "But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me." As we read further in Psalms 142 verse five we find David saying, "I cry to You, O Lord. I say, You are my refuge."

Over the years we have learned, as we say above, that the loneliest people are those that do not have a relationship with God. This is easy to understand because having faith in the Lord gives you the assurance that God is with you and gives you hope for today tomorrow and the future.

When you do not have a relationship with God, where is your hope? Is it found by watching TV, listening to the radio, going to a movie, visiting with a friend or something else in your life? These "things" are superficial. They have no substance or lasting value, and cannot provide real satisfaction or sense of fulfillment. This is when loneliness sets in. Someone once said that "Only what is done for Christ will last."

We have had the opportunity to travel to almost every corner of the world. And in these travels we have noticed the dramatic difference between people that have much and people that have so very little. Possessions do not satisfy or give comfort to loneliness. But we have noticed the difference between people that have a relationship with God [their lives radiate joy] and those who do not [they are mostly lonely, hurting and concerned about their tomorrows]. The contrast is overwhelming.

"Things" do not relieve one's loneliness but God does. Without God there is no smile, no hope and nothing but sadness. With God there is a big smile, singing, giving glory to God and excitement just for the opportunity of life. What a contrast to see but a contrast that reminds us that one will always ultimately be lonely without a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ.

We have seen lonely people. We have seen the little boy that has been orphaned because both parents have died. We have seen the lonely mother sobbing because her child had just died because there was no medicine to give her dying child. We just this year saw the young boy, living in the Amazon, who never knew his father - and his mother, just died of an illness because she could not get to a hospital on time. These people are lonely and like Paul and David must feel that no one cares. God cares and Jesus cares. God cared enough to give His only Son for us. Jesus cared enough to die for us. Jesus understands what it is to be lonely because He was lonely on this earth.

Think about the loneliness of Jesus as He was alone in the Garden of Gethsemane just hours before His death on the cross. Just think of His loneliness when He cried out to God on the cross: "My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me?" He was lonely because He knew that He was going to die all alone on that cross to pay the penalty of sin for you and me just to give us the Blessed Hope of eternal life that He had promised.

In His hours of total aloneness in the Garden of Gethsemane, who did Jesus turn to? His disciples had let Him down by going to sleep. They were not there for Him in His time of need. If you are feeling all alone and feel no one is there for you, do you know who to turn to? Jesus is waiting and He will not let you down.

LEARNING

Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6:1

Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.

PRAYER

When I am lonely, Lord, keep me looking to You for strength and comfort. Thank You Lord for the sacrifice You made for me by dying on the cross to pay for my sins. And thank You Lord for rising again out of the grave so I can serve a risen Savior. Help me this day to be an encouragement to someone who is lonely. Help me to learn to pray for a world that needs to know Jesus. Bless my family today and thank You for providing for me far beyond what I deserve.