Every one of us will feel the pangs of loneliness at one point or another during the course of our life. Loneliness does not depend on how many relationships you have or who is around you. In fact, over 60% of lonely people are said to be married. [1] The long-lasting consequences of sin cause an immediate and drastic bodily response. Changes in body temperature, compromised immune systems, immediately activated stress responses, and increased blood pressure and cholesterol are among many of the negative ways it can battle with the physical body. In fact, one source went as far to say that loneliness is as dangerous as cigarette smoking due to all the drastic ways in which loneliness impacts our bodies, it presented as great a risk for our long term health and longevity as smoking cigarettes. [2] Even scientists acknowledge that loneliness greatly impacts our physical health. There are many examples of people in the Bible who have experienced this darkness of loneliness. Often it led to self-pity, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. Elijah in 1 Kings 19 expresses his loneliness. “…for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left…” Being alone is a part of the Christian life. You will be standing alone more often than not. But God still asks us to stand. The following verse, verse 11, says, “And he said, Go forth, and stand…” No matter what loneliness we feel, we are still to press on and continue in faithfulness. Standing in the will of God will always be a repellant to the world. The world will not stand with us, nor will they have a desire to befriend us. Christian living is also the minority. Therefore, we will be alone often, and it is during those times that we can easily become discouraged and find ourselves saying as Elijah said, “I, even I only, am left.” Daniel was alone in his stand for the Lord, and was cast into the dark lion’s den. The Hebrew children stood alone, literally, and consequently were thrown into the fiery furnace. 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy is followed up with 2 Corinthians 4.8-9, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” We read this, but then wonder how? How would one experience such injustice and yet, as the verse says, not be distressed, in despair, forsaken, or destroyed?
The cure to a lonely heart is to be alone with Jesus. Loneliness comes to us when we forget the fact that God is our supreme companion. The rest of 1 Kings 19 then emphasizes God’s presence in Elijah’s life. The still small voice of God was there and assured Elijah that he was not alone. He then went on to say that there were seven thousand men who were still standing. Chapter 139 of Psalms is one of my favorites on so many levels. I love the personality and presence of God. Verses 1-4 express how intimately He knows us. Our God knows and understands every detail of our lives. He knows our needs, our problems, our desires, our sin, our struggles, our offenses, and our thoughts. There is no part of us that He is not aware of. He knows us better than we know ourselves. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17.9) But as for God, “..there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.” (Psalms 139.4) Verses 5-6 describe the protection and care of God. “Thou hast beset me behind and before…” Beset literally means to cramp, or to confine. "God has set us where we be, and beset us wherever we be. Behind us there is God recording our sins, or in grace blotting out the remembrance of them; and before us there is God foreknowing all our deeds, and providing for all our wants. We cannot turn back and so escape him, for he is behind; we cannot go forward and outmarch him, for he is before. He not only beholds us, but he besets us; and lest there should seem any chance of escape, or lest we should imagine that the surrounding presence is yet a distant one, it is added,—And laid thine hand upon me." (Charles Spurgeon) I love the thought of a hedge of protection around us. At times we may not appreciate the restriction, but it is all for our good and His glory. God wants for us what we would want for ourselves if we were smart enough to want it. “…and laid thine hand upon me.” This is not in a hostile or violent way but rather a strong, compassionate, loving hand of protection. Another portion of Psalms I enjoy is Psalm 91. Verse 4 says, “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” This is the picture that is illustrated in my mind through the previous verse. “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me…” No combination of words could improve that statement. Simply the thought of such a caring God and His protection is so overwhelming. Verses 7-12 provide us with the knowledge of His presence; God is with us constantly, and we cannot escape Him. Verse 7 proposes the question, “whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” No matter where we may go, or where life may take us, He is still there. Such a thought provides us with the comfort that He will not leave us. Not only will He not leave, but we cannot hide from Him, nor can the darkness of life or sin hide us from Him. “Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.” “We cannot hide even in the darkness, for to the Lord, the darkness is as the light”[1] Within every moment of darkness of our life, He is there, and no matter what, “marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” We can trust Him through it all because His ways are perfect. He is our comfort, our refuge, our strong tower, and our safe place. He is our guide, our leader, our teacher, and our example. This passage is incredibly simple yet profound. Personally it has benefited and encouraged my life greatly through the years. Since I was six relationships have been a struggle. I grew up being a very lonely child. It has occurred to me that there are many grown up lonely children within the world today, but it does not have to be that way. Quite possibly I am an entry-level friend as far as humans are concerned, however there has been one constant in my life. If all could get to know the friend that sticks closer than a brother, the world would change drastically; If all we who are saved would build upon our relationship with Him as we should, the world would change drastically. It’s such a privilege to know the Lord. We must daily make a conscious choice to remind and overwhelm ourselves with the presence of God. He knows us and understands every detail of our lives in ways no one else ever could. He not only knows, but He cares about and protects us. There is not a moment that we are without His presence, nor will there ever be. He lives within us, we cannot escape that. He is there when you are all alone and no one else stands with you. He is with you in every experience you will ever walk through, and everything He does is good and perfect. So trust Him. The Presence of God – by Benjamin Anabaraonye Live in God’s presence, experience His blessings. The great joy of knowing He’s by your side. His grace is amazing and peace fascinating; His love so high, so deep, so wide. Live in God’s presence, experience His friendship, The sweet fellowship offered by His Spirit His hand to keep and hold you lest you slip, His voice to cheer, to let you know you can make it. Live in God’s presence, experience His mercy. His Word to guide you each step of the way Forgiveness, freedom by the blood shed on Calvary. Enter His presence, the moment you begin to pray. Psalm 16.11, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
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January 2023
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