We are all afflicted with a common malady—loneliness.
A couple of years ago, I went to a picnic where I was the only person present who did not know a single soul. All about me, old friends seemed to be delighted to be together. And while I am usually a sociable being who enjoys making conversation, I was appalled to find myself gradually withdrawing, becoming less talkative, and pulling into my shell.
I have also experienced this kind of isolation in a doctor’s waiting room, crowded with fellow sufferers who seem to prefer to be locked into their own world of pain and misery rather than to communicate with those around them.
No matter how many people surround us, we are all afflicted with a common malady—loneliness. It is the feeling of being cut off, a sense of isolation in the midst of people, or being destitute of sympathetic or friendly companionship.
If you are feeling lonely today, let me remind you that God is present . . . everywhere.
Jeremiah expresses it in poetic imagery:
“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away? Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the Lord. “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” – Jeremiah 23:23-24
And David exults in God’s omnipresence:
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast. – Psalm 139:7-10
- If you are ill or facing a painful procedure, God is there.
- If you are adjusting to a new job or a new neighbourhood and you feel frightened, God is there.
- If you are having difficulty with someone you love, and can’t even tell your closest friend, God is there.
And if He is there, then you are forever in the presence of the One who calls you “beloved,” “the apple of my eye,” and promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Meditate on this truth today:
Meditate on this truth today, and if you begin to feel lonely and threatened, take a moment to breathe a prayer: “Lord, I thank you that I am not alone because You have promised never to leave me. You are here.”
Jan Silvious has been a featured speaker at Women of Faith, Precept Ministries’ National Women’s Convention, Moody’s Women’s Conferences, and Moody’s Founder’s Week. For five years she and Kay Arthur co-hosted “Precept Live.” Jan has also appeared on James Robison’s “Life Today,” “100 Huntley Street,” and “Precepts for Life.” She has authored 11 books, including Big Girls Don’t Whine and Fool-Proofing Your Life. Jan is also a professional life coach, helping people to ‘get from where they are to where they want to be.’
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