A Prayer for the Lonely…
After gathering up torn ribbon and piles of ripped Christmas wrapping, the young mother carried trash out to a back alley. Their traditional Christmas morning had been cut short when her three children said, “Hurry up, Mom! We have to be at Dad’s by 10:00 this morning.” At the beep of his horn, all three raced out the door to repeat the gift-giving scene with their father, his new wife, and her two children. They would be there all day and then leave on a trip for the holidays. Suddenly, both house and heart felt alone and desolate. She sat on the warm hearth of the fireplace allowing tears of emotion to run free. Then with an overwhelming sense of loneliness, she cried out to God.
“Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears!” -Psalm 39:12
Q: “Why does God seem so distant when I’m lonely?”
To feel deep loneliness when you experience a difficult loss or change in your life is natural. But if you indulge in self-pity and become angry at God for your circumstances, you will begin to feel estranged from Him and will fail to receive His loving comfort.
“Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.” -Psalm 25:16
“He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” -Hebrews 13:5
Q: “When is loneliness most likely to occur?”
Loneliness occurs most often when a major change in life occurs. Loss of both the comforting support of loved ones and the security of the old and familiar is resisted by most of us.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?” -Psalm 22:1
Key Verses to Memorize
“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!” -Psalm 139:7–8