Are You Lonesome Tonight?
As we move into short days and long nights, it becomes easier to feel discouraged. If we are increasingly secluded (by weather and, this year, by governmental edict), we can experience genuine loneliness. I enjoy being alone, but I have a choice in the matter; others do not. Solitude occurs when we want to be alone; loneliness happens when friends and family are taken from us. Solitude soothes, whereas loneliness looms. Because God knows all about us, His Word speaks to us about the painful subject of loneliness. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
In Psalm 107:4-5, the Psalmist convincingly captures our concerns: “They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.” Probably all of us have found ourselves “in a solitary way.” It is good, then, to consider how our Lord helps us to combat loneliness. In II Kings 6, the prophet Elisha faced an invasion from a numerically and militarily superior army from Syria. He was unperturbed, but his servant was overwhelmed: “Alas, my master! How shall we do?” (verse 15). Elisha reassuringly responded, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (verse 16). How could Elisha say such a thing? Verse 17 reveals the reason for his confidence: “Elijah prayed, and said, ‘LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.’ And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” There is no doubt that we would like to see this angelic army round about us, but God’s Word makes it clear that His legions surround us. Hebrews 1 speaks of the present reality of angels, concluding in verse 14 with this reminder: “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” We are the “heirs of salvation” and thus know that these faithful servants of God are still active in our lives. Remember, moreover, that Jesus, Who is far greater than the angels (verse 4), remains alongside as well. Truly, we are never alone.