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Listen while you read: "Spirit Of God Descend"1 (Lyrics) |
Are you feeling lonely today? Loneliness is a hollow emptiness, a feeling of isolation and disconnection, of not knowing what to do, as no one seems to care.
In reading about this subject, I note that loneliness is increasing everywhere. It can be as unhealthy as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Does loneliness make you feel sick and needy?
I am single and live alone, but even married people can feel desperately lonely. I have read somewhere that in our modern society, one in five people suffer from loneliness. Both men and women can feel alone and be hurting as friends and relatives die or move far away to another city or country. Yes, we talk on the telephone, but we often feel that we don't really matter to our loved ones or friends any more. They are all so busy that they have little time for us.
Modern life is making us lonelier, and recent research indicates that this may be the next biggest public issue. It is on par with obesity and substance abuse. Lonely youth commit suicide or take more drugs. We are social beings, and we need to feel that we belong to others and feel connected to one another. Sadly, if people are socially isolated, they can remain in an uncomfortable state of loneliness. Is this you?
Research notes that social pain is as real a sensation for us as physical pain. Modern researchers have shown that loneliness and rejection activate the same part of the brain as physical pain. We may be really hurting, and when we are in pain, it hurts even more to feel so alone.
But Psalm 25:16 may speak to you. "Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted." (NIV)
We need to turn to the Lord Jesus, and He will turn to us. He is always present with us and will touch our souls with His love. Our loneliness is His call into intimate fellowship with Him. He is all we need.
As I live alone, very often, there are good reasons to feel lonely, but I stop and pray about it. It is amazing what happens next. My feelings change, and I no longer feel lonely. Jesus is with me. Yes, there is a deep, hurting feeling all around me, but the Lord can touch and renew those feelings with His love, and I can laugh and be happy.
You and I need to turn to the Lord Jesus. He cares for us. He reminds us that "He will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6b NIV). All that we need to do is to turn aside to the Lord and pray. Yes, Jesus does hear us and touches our souls with peace and happiness, giving us something to do for the Lord. He is present with you and me always. We are not lonely. He is with us.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, we know that You are with us every day, and that You will help us to share our love for You with others. Please help us to reach out to our neighbours when they are in trouble. May we care for one another in true fellowship and in Jesus' precious love. We pray in His name. Amen.
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Nice message Iris.
Thank you.
Very interesting and helpful, thank you.
God bless you.
Good morning Iris,
Thank you so much for “Feeling Lonely”.
Dear Iris:
Beautifully said. Thank you from one single woman to another.
Dear Iris, it is so comforting to know others understand. Thank you for this wonderful devotional.
Thank you, Iris, for your thoughts and words. Please know that there are many cyber-friends who very much appreciate your devotions, and hold you in prayer and support. We are with you!
(ON)
Iris – a beautifully written devotional that is sure to help many people who feel isolated. May God’s inspiration continue to be with you to write devotionals. May His comfort be with you to protect and comfort you.
Dear Iris,
As always, you touched my heart with your meditation.
I am thinking about you and remembering days gone by when we lived much closer together. I pray for you today trusting that God is holding you in arms of love.
Hello Iris
Your devotion today hit the nail right on its head. Yes, we are all lonely at some time in our lifetime.
Thank you for the reminder that WE ARE NEVER ALONE WHEN WE HAVE JESUS.
GOD BLESS.
Dear Iris,
Thank you so much for this devotional. The words that struck me most are “in true fellowship.” I am a widow and living alone would certainly not be my choice. I have church friends but I need to have true fellowship with them.
I am so thankful that the Lord is always with us.
I was alone for many years and then not. It is a bit different as I am an emotion caregiver. I would not change my life, but this weekend being alone I find I am getting more done, but the hole is there that I was emotionally giving but not physically. I did not feel alone all those many years but am feeling it this weekend. Of course, you have those feelings too.
Dear Iris,
This is a precious devotional. So true.
Sometimes I am lonely, but my passion for writing of our Lord Jesus helps. And I seem busier than ever in my life.
God bless you, Iris. keep writing.
Thanks for sharing this devotional with us, Iris. It helps when we share with others. I share my life with a wee lapdog. He keeps me from loneliness. Also daily calls from my son and Facebook chats with friends helps. But nothing beats church on Sunday morning, especially during the passing of the peace. Daily Devotionals run a close second as we share the Lord’s lessons with each other. Again, thanks for writing this devotional. Blessings.
Thank you for today’s devotional.
I have found in my walk that one has to reach out to our Christian friends for help. For many this can be very intimating as well as foreign to them.
I have talked and have been involved in a singles ministry and this topic has been discussed in many weekend seminars and conferences.
Thank you again.
Blessings.
Hi Iris,
A very good devotional today. I visit some elderly people in town here and also in two cities about 20 miles away and people are indeed lonely. In the Long-Term care Centre there are people surrounded by people and yet lonely.
We ourselves experience it too to some extent, although both my wife and I keep very busy but it seems that the children and grandchildren are all very busy as well. and don’t have time for visits too often.
But your prayer says it so well, we know that Jesus is with us.
Blessings.
I’m always glad to read your Devotional’s. This very week I received a plea from someone recently widowed, asking how long the loneliness lasts. There is no way for you to prepare for it as we all experience it differently and I did my best to give her encouragement. I know she is a believer but I don’t know of her commitment. There are times when I have felt alone in a room of people and I’m sure you have experienced that. I don’t remember that ever happening when my husband was still with me, have numerous times since. I think that growing up as a PK and then preacher’s wife, I always had my place.
know that you and I are expected to have all the answers and we do our best with our dependence on the Lord. God loves you and so do I.
Hi Iris, I have known deep loneliness, so much that a spirit of loneliness attached itself to me. My mother died when I was quite young. I felt like after that, no-one ever knew the real me. It was a handicap that I doubt anyone ever knew was there. It often brought me to despair. On the outside I was one person, but on the inside, a deep dark hole that threatened to swallow me up. Somehow, in the midst of my sorrow and loneliness, God was there. I knew it was Him. Thinking about those days makes me weep for the child that grieved and couldn’t be comforted. In those days, adults didn’t think of children as people. God was there. And He comforted me and was with me. As I read me bible, the Lord brought me to precious promises that strengthened me. He drew me deeper into His love. Like a precious ointment that heals all wounds. I have never been alone. And it has been a long time now since I have felt alone. May the Lord do to you as He has done for me. Perhaps you already have received that. How I wish all the lonely people of the world could know what I know! It sets you free to live and love and laugh and never dwell in the dark places. Bless you for writing!
Hi Iris
As I turned on my computer early this morning the title caught my eye and I just finished printing it off. At present I am not lonely as I have a wonderful husband of over 50 years and the Lord has blessed us with much happiness. However, I know many lonely people and I never know the day I will be lonely. I have struggled with depression and your same advice applies “Take it to the Lord”. However, I must admit I often tend to listen to the negative message first. I am learning slowly to take my concerns to the Lord immediately and he will help me increase my awareness of when the evil one is attacking.
An excellent message Iris! May the Lord richly bless you as you continue to serve Him.
I hope I can help some lonely folk I know by sharing your message with them.
Sadly, some of the lonely people have not yet come to the point in their journey where they feel they can approach the Lord in all situations.
Keep up the great work Iris. I look forward to seeing more devotions with your name.
Thanks for writing these encouraging words, Iris.
Thanks, dear Iris, for your message. Living far from family and alone feels lonely. Some people use skype. Those who can afford to travel to visit loved ones are blessed. New friends are not as trusting and close as family. They are kind and bring food when you are ill, but when you are well are more distant. Only if they themselves are newcomers to the community do they need you and bond with you. They don’t invite you into their home and they are busy with their own family and old friends on special days, like Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. It is hard to find any of them free to accept your invitation to visit you. Or you invite them for the day before or after. Or you hunt around for someone else who is new to the community. Even most of them travel to visit distant loved ones and you are alone. This is urbanized Canada.
Good afternoon Iris,
Thank you for your devotional “Feeling Lonely”.