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.)
Loneliness is limiting: it narrows our lives and often focuses our attention on what we do not have rather than what we do have. However, loneliness cannot limit the power of God. We have already seen this truth in Psalm 102:7, where the Psalmist laments, “I watch, and am as a sparrow upon the house top.” Yes, this lonesome man is hurting, but he cries out to God, knowing that God cares and can help him. We have also touched upon the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). One of the most moving statements in Scripture is found in verse 17: “He came to himself.” This young man had wasted everything, including his wealth and time. He was completely alone (verse 16 – “No man gave unto him”). The one thing this man had was a knowledge of his father; he knew that his father would receive him back. In this lengthy parable, the father represents God, and the prodigal symbolizes each one of us, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). What we all learn is that, when we think we are all alone, our God has not abandoned us. Moreover, when we think that we are running to God, we find that He has run to us (verse 20 – “when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and ran, and [embraced him], and kissed him”). Yes, when the crowd is running away, we can be certain that our Lord is always hastening to us. The absence of others does not limit the power of His presence.