Alone. So Alone.

 Have you ever felt alone?  

Have you felt the kind of alone that hits your heart and brings sadness, tears or despair?  Many situations can bring you to that point.  Death, major life changes, change of job, marital strife, abuse, rejection, broken friendships, depression and many other life happenings. 

There are moments when your heart ache is so deep that you want to just let it all out but you are not sure where the safe spot is or if there even is a safe place to let your emotions and heartache go free.  It may be that you don't trust your emotions.  It may be that you don't trust others.  It could be that it feels like no one would really care anyway.  Maybe what you have to say is from such deep despair or trauma that you fear how others would react.  Maybe sharing your heart would mean you have to take off the mask you always wear in public.  Sometimes people are so close to the end of their rope that they don't even have the strength to reach out for help.

Have you been in any of those places?  I have.  I have been to the point where all I wanted to do was curl up on the couch and do nothing.  My emotions were shot.  My world felt out of control and in a place of constant battle.  My thoughts would be that even though some would listen, how often would they really want to hear the pain of my situation?

These times can make us feel isolated, alone, in a place where we don't know how we will continue on or return to a place where our heart was once full of joy.  But, dear one, here is a reminder.  There is always a way out.  And the best news of all is that you are never alone.  Ever.  Never ever alone.  

Even though we all have moments and times that we feel this way, I don't believe it's good for us to stay in that frame of mind.  It can sink us into an unhealthy place.  The enemy likes nothing more than for us to feel alone and in despair.  So, how do we deal with the feelings of being alone?  

Let's take a look at a few Biblical examples.

Jonah - His disobedience landed him in the belly of a massive fish.  Clearly there was no one else there with him.  So, what did he do?  Jonah 2:1-2 tell us, "I called out of my distress to the Lord, and He answered me. I called for help from the depth of Sheol; You heard my voice."  When Jonah was alone and fearful, he cried out to God.

Stephen - Although there were people around him, he was being stoned for the truth he spoke to those around him.   As He stood alone, he cried out to God.  In Acts 7:59-60 he cries out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”  Then he fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep."  As he lived his last breaths, he cried out to God.

David - David was a man after God's own heart.   That doesn't exempt him from pain and hardship.  He was on the run from King Saul.  He had to hide.  He found himself downcast and pleading out to God on many occasions.  Listen to his cry in Psalm 69:1-3.  "Save me, O God,  for the waters have come up to my neck.  I sink in the miry depths,  where there is no foothold.  I have come into the deep waters;  the floods engulf me.  I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched.  My eyes fail,  looking for my God" At times like these, one can feel alone because of what is being experienced emotionally.  In this time, David's cry was to God.

Recently, my heart walked through rejection.  For some reason, it brought me to a place where I felt very alone.  It wasn't my reality but the emotions of it all made me feel alone.  So what did I do?  Exactly what David, Stephen, and Jonah did.  I went before my God.  Praying, praising, petitioning, asking for wisdom.  I also did what Paul and Silas did when the they were thrown in prison.  "Now about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them." (Acts 16:25)  I sang.  The more I sang, the more I gave praise for who God is.  Doing those things helped me no longer feel alone.  Healing began.  Joy returned.

I understand that it's not always easy to turn our hearts to prayer and praise but sometimes we need to step out and do it even when our hearts don't feel like it.  I find that purposefully looking around to find things to be thankful for can begin to move my heart in the right direction.  Other times a simple, "I need you, Lord." is my heart cry.  None of the men above wanted to be in the situations they were put in.  I'm sure all of them experienced deep emotions in the midst of it yet they all made a choice to turn to God.  

In fact, I love what the next verse in Acts 16 says.  "And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were unfastened."  The chains that bound them fell off!  This is just what happens when we lay our hearts before our Heavenly Father!  Although the situation they were in (prison) did not change, their chains were off!  Even though our situation may not change, God frees us to know His presence, His joy and His peace in the midst.  He reminds us we are not alone!

Friend, are you feeling alone?  If so, cry out to God.  He is good and kind and compassionate.  Psalm 56:8 exclaims, "You have taken account of my miseries; put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?"  He sees you.  He knows your pain.  He knows when you feel alone.  Time with Him and in the Word will be a breath of fresh air and a balm to the heart.

 I also encourage you to reach out to someone around you who knows and loves God.  Maybe you can share from the depths of your heart.  Maybe right now you can only go as deep as to tell them you need someone to pray for you.  It's OK.  We have all been there.  Step by step we will walk together.  And if you don't know who that someone would be, feel free to reach out to me.  I'd be happy to walk with you or point you in the direction of those who can help.  You are precious.  You are loved.  And no matter what the enemy whispers in your ear, you are not alone!

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2