The Lonely Times – You’re not Alone!

“And he said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return.  The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD’ (Job 1:21).

How often have you found yourself surrounded by people yet still feeling desperately alone?  Whether it’s at home, at work, maybe even at church.  No one seems to understand what it is to walk in your shoes day in and day out but they are very quick to opinionate, comment, or even give you “advise”.  There is someone who knows you, understands you because He made you, His name is Jesus.

I am reminded of the Book of Job.

In the Book of Job, we see Job lose everything! He goes through the worst sorrows. Job lost his children, his wealth, and even his health. His wife pretty much told him to curse himself and die. His friends came to “console” him but only made matters worse. The best thing they did was cry and grieve with him for his losses. In the end, it was just Job and God. It was God who showed up to speak truth into Job’s life. It was God who enlightens him, instructs and essentially sets him straight. It wasn’t his friends, It was God! They way I see it, God allowed all this hardship to teach Job about Job and to teach him that God is His true source.

The process of sanctification can be very painful at times.  The burning or scraping off of all that is not of Him to become more like Him leaves its own marks but so did the nails in His wrists and feet.  It’s where the rubber meets the road and you find truth.  The truth of who you truly are, who your true friends are, and who loves you for you.   The truth of what it means to pick up your cross and follow Him.  The truth of how immeasurably broken this world is. The truth that in the end, in the valley, when it’s all said and done, all that remains is you and Jesus.

Initially, it feels lonely.  The true confidants are there but there are times or seasons where we are meant to walk through with the Lord and only the Lord.   To rely on our Father first and foremost.  To understand that we are never truly alone we must walk with Him. To build that complete and utter dependency on the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.  He abides in us and so He never leaves us.  But to find Him sometimes you have to hit rock bottom, you have to be alone. Alone with Him.

It’s nothing to fear but to embrace and relish.  Yes, we are not meant to walk this life alone.  We need community and fellowship but we also need to learn to be still and alone with the Lord in order to hear Him speak, to show us the truth about ourselves and life, to build that one-on-one relationship with Him, and for Him to do what only He can do.  Many times He does this in the stillness of the night, or quiet of the morning, when we are all alone, not distracted and then, HE SPEAKS!  

Too often, we fear being alone and never give ourselves the chance to experience the saving power , comfort and grace of our God Almighty.  Many of us seek comfort from and/or run to family, spouses, friends, media, food, addictions, etc., first. Anyone or thing to lean on and carry us through our hard times except Jesus.  Please hear my heart, we should not walk through hardships alone.  Marriage, family, and friends are a great source. Jesus called us to be one, in community. This is not what I am saying.  What I am saying is, are we running to Jesus first?  When something goes wrong are we running to THE Father?  Or is He our second, third, fourth choice, our last resort or even a choice at all?

This is an invitation!  An invitation to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  An invitation to bear your soul to Him, confess and repent.  He is always just a prayer away.  This is an invitation to go to Jesus with all your worries, concerns, heartaches, pains, and sorrows and lay them at His feet. He can take it. An invitation to allow Him to search your heart and show you the real you. Your circumstances may never change, or they may, but the more you lean on Him He will change you for the better even in and through the circumstances.

Friend, you are never alone. You always have someone to go to. Not just a someone, the someone who gave His life for yours. His Name is Jesus!

Would you go into the secret place?  The place where He meets you and allow Him to be your first and most precious best friend.  Would you go to Jesus first? He’s waiting…