I Need You Lord: Devotions From Time of GraceSample

I’m Lonely

You might think with a world population of over 7.4 billion that it would be pretty hard to be lonely on this planet. You might think that there is an army of potential friends just like you ready, willing, and able to be part of your life.

You might think that insane new digital technology would make sure nobody got ignored or neglected, that relationships are now so easy to establish that nobody anywhere could feel alone. You might think all of those things, but you’d be wrong.

Truth is, you can be intensely lonely even in a big city, even inside a family: “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart” (Psalm 25:16,17). (David lonely? Seriously?) How is that possible? A feeling of isolation, even when in a group, comes from fear, fear of rejection and mockery, the assumption that nobody could understand or empathize with what is going on in your life.

It comes from repeated disappointments, from being let down, from frequent criticism, from seldom hearing the magic words: “I love you.” “You did well.” “I appreciate you.” It comes from low self-esteem--if I don’t like myself, why should anybody else like me? The best feeling of connectedness is built on the ultimate connection--our loving heavenly Father’s unconditional love: “Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me” (Psalm 27:10).

Do you have any idea of how valuable and beautiful God thinks you are?