Lonely but Never Alone

I feel everyone probably goes through a period of loneliness at some point in their lives.

As a child, a teen, young adult, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, and so on.  We love, we build relationships, we build our futures, our careers, our goals, etc.  Sometimes they last and sometimes they don’t.  When we lose the things we love the most it can feel very lonely. Isolating even as you try to figure out what happens next.  As you try to figure out why this is even happening in the first place.  

As we’re trying to process these emotions and trying to gain an understanding of what’s happening, just remember:

God doesn’t isolate you to harm you- He sets you apart to prepare you.

God will separate you from the world when He’s working on something big within you.  god will remove friends, relationships, family, a job, and even hobbies when He knows you deserve more.

Sometimes you lose people and things you love from your life so you can focus on the Lord.

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. - Proverbs 18:24 NIV

God is not doing this to hurt you but to heal you.  You can’t be healed when the things that are hurting you are in your daily life.  You can’t build your relationship with God when youre too distracted from the things of this world.   You might feel lonely but just remember you are never alone.  God has never abandoned you

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “ plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”                     - Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

When you’re sitting in your loneliness, ask God for guidance. “What do you have planned for me?  Guiide me, help me grow and learn during this season of loneliness.”

Separation is actually a pattern of greatness!  

In the Bible, before someone did something great, God separated them from their daily lives.  This was done to prepare them. 

For Moses, God removed him from the evil in his life.  It mustve felt so lonely to abandoned the only life you’ve ever known.  But this was done because God had something big planned for him.  God spoke to Moses and old him to help the Lord’s people get set free from slavery!  God used Moses to lead His people to the promise land.

For Joseph, he was sold into slavery by his own brothers.  Forced to live in a land with people unfamiliar to him, and eventually he was even tossed into prison for something he didn’t do.  It seems like the Lord abandoned him when in reality it was a blessing.  This time in prison while in prayer allowed the pharoah to see his gift and Joseph was able to help with a drough, saving a ton of lives!

Even Jesus spent time are with the Father!  He had his disciples watch out while he spent time alone in prayer with the Father.  He even spent 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness, preparing for His death.  a brutal torture that would ed to our eternal salvation!

So remember, in our time of loneliness God is always there.  He sets you apart to prepare you for His greatness.  Just like Moses, Joseph, and Jesus Christ- pray continuously and He will direct your path.  

“Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

Personal Development:

- what might God be developing in you during this season of separation?

- how can you draw nearer to Him, rather than trying to escape the discomfort?