I have heard it said, there is a difference between being alone and being lonely. Many people can be in a crowded room and still be lonely. Implied in that statement I believe is the message that loneliness is a state of mind and heart and that you have more control over loneliness than you have over being alone.
Right now, my loneliness is still part of my grief and I believe it is my assignment from the Lord for a period of time. I think it is healthy to acknowledge and face the loneliness in order to help me move through the grief. Loneliness is a terrible feeling but I won’t die from being lonely.
Being alone and also feeling lonely may also be your assignment right now. God some times allows us to feel these things to cause us to grow in our relationship with Him and with others. Your response and mine is to recognize that God has thrust us or at least alowed us to be in our current situation. But we also need to recognize that He is also the One who said, “…I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Heb. 135b) and Who also said, "there is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother." (Prov. 18:24b)”
Lord, I know you want to teach me through my loneliness. Lord help me to find my contentment in You and look to You for strength, encouragement and creative, wholesome ideas and activities.
-------------------------------------
here are a few verses that I find instructive in periods of loneliness. What verses have helped you get through?
There has no temptation come your way that is not common to all mankind, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength, but will, when you are tempted, also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it." I Cor. 10:13
For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to be, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom. 8:38,39
"But we have this treasure, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. Troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus might also be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus might also be made manifest in our mortal flesh." 2 Corinthians 4:7-11
"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus." I Thessa. 4:13, 14
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
"When you really see Jesus, I defy you to doubt Him. When He says - "Let not your heart be troubled," if you see Him I defy you to trouble your mind, it is a moral impossibility to doubt when He is there. Every time you get into personal contact with Jesus, His words are real. "My peace I give unto you," it is a peace all over from the crown of the head to the sole of the feet, an irrepressible confidence. "Your life is hid with Christ in God," and the imperturbable peace of Jesus Christ is imparted to you."
- Oswald Chambers
There were plenty of times when David was troubled. and Jesus Himself was troubled in Gesemane. Oswald Chambers is good but he is not inspired. It is wonderful to be in the Lord's presence but that does not mean we won't be troubled. Often it is the trouble itself that leads us into his presence.
I think that was the point of the quote. Of course there will be times we feel troubled, but if we turn to God in those times He will carry that burden for us. Do you not agree that the burden is less when you call on Jesus?
amen and amen. the burden is certainly less when we call on Jesus. The Oswald Chambers quote however says, I defy" and "it is a moral impossibility". It doesn't say less. One Day when we see Jesus face to face then these absolutes will be true. Then there will be no troubling and no doubt and imperturbable peace. Now we have an increasing measure of these things as we dtraw closer and closer to Him. And thank God for that!
Post a Comment